Reuben H. Walworth
Reuben H. Walworth was a notable American legal figure born in Connecticut who eventually made significant contributions to the state of New York's judicial system. After studying law, he was admitted to the New York bar in 1809 and became a judge by 1817. Walworth served as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1821 to 1823 while simultaneously fulfilling his judicial duties. He later became the Chancellor of New York, a role in which he was influential in developing the state's case law until 1848.
In 1844, President John Tyler nominated Walworth to the Supreme Court, but the Senate did not act on the nomination, leading to its withdrawal later that year. His legal expertise was also recognized in 1850 when he was appointed as a special master for the important case Pennsylvania v. Wheeling and Belmont Bridge Co., and he published a report on the proceedings in 1851. Walworth's career reflects a period of significant legal and political developments in the early 19th century America.
Subject Terms
Reuben H. Walworth
Nominated by: John Tyler
Significance: The Senate failed to act on Walworth’s appointment to the Supreme Court, probably because President John Tyler, who had appointed him, lacked support.
Born in Connecticut, Walworth studied law and began his practice in New York, where he was admitted to the bar in 1809 and rose to a judgeship in 1817. After serving as a member of Congress from 1821 to 1823 (while remaining on the bench), Walworth was appointed chancellor (or chief judge) of New York state, in which office he served ably, developing the state’s case law, until 1848.
On March 13, 1844, President John Tyler appointed Walworth to the Supreme Court to replace fellow New Yorker Smith Thompson, but the Senate took no action on the confirmation, and Tyler withdrew the appointment on June 17. An earlier appointee, John C. Spencer, had been rejected. Tyler had switched party affiliations to become the vice president under William Henry Harrison. Upon Harrison’s death in 1841, Tyler became a president lacking support both in the party he had left and in the party he had joined.
In 1850 the Court asked Walworth to serve as special master in the landmark case Pennsylvania v. Wheeling and Belmont Bridge Co. (1852). Walworth accepted the task and published a report on the case in 1851.