| Pierce Butler (justice) |
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Pierce Butler ( March 17 , 1866 – November 16 , 1939 ) was an American Jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1923 until his death in 1939 . Butler was born to Irish Catholic immigrants on St. Patrick's Day of 1866 in Pine Bend, Minnesota , and grew up on his parents' farm there. He graduated from Carleton College , where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. Admitted to the bar in 1888 , he served as state's attorney in Ramsey County, Minnesota before entering private practice in St. Paul, Minnesota where he did much railroad work for James J. Hill and others. Though much admired by Chief Justice William Howard Taft , Butler's hostility to "radical" and "disloyal" professors at the University Of Minnesota (where Butler served as a Regent) made him a somewhat controversial nominee when proposed by Warren Harding . Senator-elect Henrik Shipstead of his home state vigorously opposed him, as did Progressive Senator Robert M. LaFollette, Sr. of Wisconsin and labor and progressive groups. However, with the support of prominent Roman Catholics, fellow lawyers, and business groups, as well as Minnesota's other U.S. Senator, Knute Nelson , he was confirmed by an overwhelming vote and took office on January 2 , 1923 . While on the Court, Butler vigorously opposed regulation of business and the provision of welfare by the government. He opposed many of Franklin Roosevelt 's New Deal laws that came before the Court, earning him a place among the so-called " Four Horsemen ," which also included James Clark McReynolds , George Sutherland , and Willis Van Devanter . He died in Washington, D.C. at the age of 73 while still a justice and is buried in the Calvary Cemetery in St. Paul. REFERENCES |
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