Pierce Butler

Details

Birth

March 17, 1866 · Northfield, Minnesota

Death

November 16, 1939

Law school

carleton college; read law (Twohy, John)

Prior experience

Various legal and public service prior to appointment

Biography

Pierce Butler (March 17, 1866 – November 16, 1939) was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1923 to 1939. Born to Irish immigrant parents in a log cabin in Northfield, Minnesota, Butler worked his way through Carleton College, graduating in 1887. He began his career as a lawyer in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he became a successful railroad attorney and corporate counsel. Despite his humble origins, Butler developed a reputation as a skilled litigator representing major corporations and railroads, which brought him considerable wealth and prominence in legal circles. President Warren G. Harding nominated Butler to the Supreme Court in 1922, and he was confirmed by the Senate in 1923. Butler was notable as the Court's first Justice of Irish Catholic heritage. On the Court, Butler became one of the conservative "Four Horsemen" alongside Justices James McReynolds, George Sutherland, and Willis Van Devanter, consistently opposing New Deal legislation and federal economic regulation. His judicial philosophy emphasized strict constitutional interpretation, states' rights, and limited federal government power. Butler authored few major opinions during his tenure, but he was known for his vigorous dissents defending property rights and opposing government intervention in economic affairs. Butler's legacy is primarily defined by his opposition to Progressive Era reforms and New Deal policies. He voted to strike down key New Deal programs in cases such as *Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States* (1935) and initially opposed Social Security legislation. His conservative stance contributed to the constitutional crisis that led to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's court-packing plan in 1937. Butler served until his death in 1939, representing the last of the conservative bloc that had dominated the Court during the 1920s and early 1930s.

Notable opinions

• Buck v. Bell
• Pierce v. Society of Sisters