Why did President Washington appoint so many members of the US Supreme Court?

Answer 1

President Washington offered fourteen nominations that resulted in seating eleven justices.

The primary reason President Washington appointed so many justices is that he was President when the US Supreme Court was established, giving him the opportunity to fill the first six positions.

In the 18th century, Supreme Court justices were required to "ride Circuit," presiding over intermediate appellate cases twice a year when not holding Court in Philadelphia (then the nation's capital). A typical circuit ride was a round trip of approximately 1,800 miles, mostly traveled over rough terrain on horseback or by carriage. Some of the justices resigned because the long days and harsh conditions took a tole on their health or family lives; these men had to be replaced by new nominees.

Washington also had difficulty finding a Chief Justice to replace John Jay, when Jay was elected Governor of New York, in 1795. The President made a recess appointment of John Rutledge, whose commission was later rejected by the Senate; he then nominated William Cushing, an Associate Justice on the Court, who was confirmed but declined the lead role; finally, Washington selected Oliver Ellsworth, who was approved in March 1996. Ellsworth was Washington's last nomination before leaving office.

For more information about George Washington's Supreme Court appointments, see Related Questions, below.