Salmon P. Chase served as a U.S. senator from Ohio, governor of Ohio, and secretary of the treasury before becoming chief justice of the United States. As chief justice, he lobbied Congress in 1866 to eliminate several Supreme Court seats, hoping to increase the salaries of the remaining justices. Congress, however, did not approve a raise until 1871.
Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase, photograph by the Brady Handy Studio, ca. 1860
Redrawing Federal Court Circuits
Congress originally assigned Supreme Court justices to serve on circuit courts, which tried cases and heard appeals from district courts. Congress also determined circuit boundaries, redrawing them periodically. Prior to the Civil War, the president appointed a justice from each circuit. Five of the nine circuits were completely comprised of slave-holding states. After the war, the Judiciary Circuits Act of 1866 redrew circuit boundaries to weaken the influence of Southerners on the Supreme Court.
Congress determines the structure and authority of the federal court system. After the Civil War, Congress significantly revised the federal circuit courts and the number of Supreme Court justices.
Salmon P. Chase served as a U.S. senator from Ohio, governor of Ohio, and secretary of the treasury before becoming chief justice of the United States. As chief justice, he lobbied Congress in 1866 to eliminate several Supreme Court seats, hoping to increase the salaries of the remaining justices. Congress, however, did not approve a raise until 1871.
Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
