Attorney General and Supreme Court Tenure
While in private practice, he was retained by the Government in matters relating to enforcement of antitrust laws, particularly in proceedings against the "Tobacco trust" (see United States v. American Tobacco Co., 221 U.S. 106 (1911)) and the combination of the anthracite coal railroads.
On March 15, 1913, McReynolds was appointed the 48th United States Attorney General by President Wilson, where he remained until August 29, 1914. During his time in private practice, McReynolds earned a reputation as an ardent 'trust buster' and continued working against trusts during his time as the US Attorney General. In spite of his views on corporate monopolies, McReynolds was also very supportive of laissez-faire economic policies and Wilson found him difficult to work with.
On August 19, 1914, Wilson appointed him to the Supreme Court, to a seat vacated by Horace H. Lurton. McReynolds was confirmed by the United States Senate and received his commission the same day, starting with the new term on October 12, 1914. However, it was also accepted that Wilson only appointed McReynolds to the Supreme Court because he did not want to work with him anymore.
When the Supreme Court Building opened in 1935, McReynolds, like most of the other Justices, refused to move his office from his apartment into the new building but continued to work out of the office he maintained at his apartment.
Read more about this topic: James Clark Mc Reynolds
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