How New York and New Yorkers Impacted the Supreme Court

On this week’s show we will explore the impact of New York City and New Yorkers on the United States Supreme Court, from the establishment of the Republic right up to the present day. My guest will be teacher (and lawyer!) Robert Pigott, author of "New York’s Legal Landmarks", a historical guidebook to our court buildings, history and lore of New York’s legal system through the ages.

Segment 1

Jeff introduces his first guest Robert Pigott a lawyer and teacher. The first question comes from Jeff, who asks Robert about when he first entered law school. Robert mentions his time as a public school teacher before entering law school. Jeff then asks what took Robert to the NY attorney’s office and the charity bureau. Robert talks about leaving the private sector to becoming a regulator for nonprofits all over New York and how it introduced him to many diverse groups of people. Robert goes on to talk about the journey that lead him to his job. Jeff asks Robert about what makes the low-income housing offered by fifth houses create. Jeff asks who were the prominent New Yorkers who helped draft the constitution in the 1700s. They then talk about John Jay, the first supreme chief justice elected by George Washington, and his impact on the history of New York.

Segment 2

Robert explains what the circuit course was and what judges and practices were unique to it. Jeff mentions Henry Brockholms Livingston as part of one of the first “dream teams” with Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. The dream team served on one of the most popular trails of the time to acquit a man of murder. Jeff talks about Columbia Law School and asks Robert to run down the history of one of our nation’s most historic colleges. Jeff asks Robert about Albert Cardozo’s legal career. Cardozo was one of the city’s most prominent lawyers in the 1800s and was elected to the supreme court of New York. He served on the U.S supreme court until he died in 1885. 

Segment 3

Jeff asks Robert what inspired him to write his book “New York’s Legal Landmarks.” Robert explains his inspiration came from his love of the city’s legal buildings, making him decide to research the buildings and write a book. They then discuss Robert Even Hughes, who was a supreme court justice with a prolific career in U.S politics. Hughes made an unsuccessful bid at the presidency and barely lost to Woodrow Wilson in 1916. Jeff asks what role Hughes played in preventing the court from being expanded by lawmakers. Jeff brings up Felix Frankfurter, who lived in the Lower East Side and became another prominent lawyer in New York who went to Harvard Law School. Because of his Jewish heritage, he had trouble finding a job. Eventually, he got a job at a prestigious law firm, becoming a supreme court justice nominated by Franklin Roosevelt. 

Segment 4

Jeff brings up Harland Fisk Stone, a U.S Attorney General who started as an associate justice. Jeff and Robert next talked about Antonin Scalia, a Queens native and a supreme court justice from 1986 to 2016. Despite having different ideologies Scalia was great friends with Ruth Bader Ginsburg, with the two of them sharing a love for opera. They then begin talking about Ginsburg and her appointment from President Bill Clinton. Jeff brings up Manhattan native Elena Kagan and her legal history before being in the supreme court.