Thomas Todd
Thomas Todd was an influential figure in early American jurisprudence and served as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice. He relocated to Kentucky in 1784, which was then part of Virginia, and played a significant role in the state's legal formation following its admission to the Union in 1792. Todd initially served as clerk of the Kentucky legislature and later became the clerk of the state supreme court in 1799, eventually being appointed as a judge and chief justice of the court. Nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Thomas Jefferson in 1807, he contributed to the court primarily through key rulings related to land law, reflecting his expertise in this area. Notably, he wrote only twelve opinions during his tenure, with significant cases addressing land ownership and state authority in Native American territories. Todd was a supportive ally of Chief Justice John Marshall, participating in critical decisions that reinforced federal power over state governments. His judicial legacy is marked by a focus on property law and a commitment to establishing legal precedents in a formative period of American law.
Subject Terms
Thomas Todd
Supreme Court Justice
- Born: January 23, 1765
- Birthplace: King and Queen County, Virginia
- Died: February 7, 1826
- Place of death: Frankfort, Kentucky
Nominated by: Thomas Jefferson
Significance: Supreme Court justice Todd was an authority on land law and supported the power of the federal government over the states.
Todd moved to Kentucky, then part of Virginia, in 1784. When Kentucky became a state in 1792, he was chosen as clerk of the legislature. He became clerk of the state supreme court in 1799, was appointed a judge on the court in 1801, and became its chief justice in 1806. President Thomas Jefferson nominated him to the Supreme Court on February 28, 1807. He was confirmed by the Senate on March 3 and took office on May 4.
Todd wrote only twelve opinions, all but one dealing with land law, in which he was an expert. In Vowles v. Craig (1814), Todd decided that a seller could not reclaim land after it had been sold, even if the original survey had been in error. In Preston v. Browder (1816), he upheld the right of a state to restrict land claims within Native American territory. In Robinson v. Campbell (1818), he denied a state the power to question the validity of previously established land titles.
In addition to this specialty, Todd supported Chief Justice John Marshall in a series of important cases that established the authority of the federal government over the states.