The Three Musketeers (Supreme Court)

This page is about three liberal Supreme Court Justices. For other uses, see Three Musketeers.

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The "Three Musketeers" was the nickname given to three liberal members of the United States Supreme Court in the 1930's, who generally supported the New Deal agenda of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. They were Justices Louis Brandeis, Benjamin N. Cardozo, and Harlan Fiske Stone. They were opposed by the Four Horsemen, consisting of Justices James Clark McReynolds, George Sutherland, Willis Van Devanter, and Pierce Butler. Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes and Justice Owen J. Roberts controlled the balance.

Related Topics:
United States Supreme Court - New Deal - Franklin Delano Roosevelt - Louis Brandeis - Benjamin N. Cardozo - Harlan Fiske Stone - Four Horsemen - James Clark McReynolds - George Sutherland - Willis Van Devanter - Pierce Butler - Charles Evans Hughes - Owen J. Roberts

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During the 1935 term, the Four Horsemen would often ride together to and from Court in order to coordinate their positions. To counter them, the Three Musketeers started meeting at Brandeis's apartment on Friday afternoons. However, the Four Horsemen held sway, leading to Roosevelt's Court-packing Bill. In 1937, in the "switch in time that saved nine" Roberts switched to the liberal side; within a year, Van Devanter and Sutherland retired to be replaced by Hugo Black and Stanley Reed, strong New Dealers. This ended the Four Horsemen's sway. Shortly thereafter, Brandeis, Cardozo, Butler, McReynolds, and Hughes were also gone.

Related Topics:
1935 - Court-packing Bill - 1937 - Switch in time that saved nine - Hugo Black - Stanley Reed

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