The Ancient and Judicial Game: James Wilson, John Marshall Harlan, and the Beginnings of Golf at the Supreme Court

Abstract

Golf has a long history at the Supreme Court, not only as a sometimes illuminating, sometimes entertaining interest of some personalities at the Court, but also as both a factor in and a reflection of the evolving work and culture of the place (and of the nation it serves). This article revisits a few early developments involving the first golfer on the Court (Justice James Wilson), the first golf enthusiast (the first Justice John Marshall Harlan), and the first golfing majority (October Term 1906).

Keywords: baseball, briefs, Chevy Chase, Chief Justice, Edward White, evidence, first amendment, health, indecency, Malvina, McKinley, Fuller, Oliver Wendell Holmes, oral argument, President, profanity, resign, retire, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Salmon Chase, Solicitor General, Stevens, Taft, Theodore Roosevelt

JEL Classification: K10, K20, K21, K23, K40