VII. The Warren Court
1953–1969
The constitutional revolution: Brown, Miranda, one person one vote — the most transformative era in the Court's modern history.
The 9 justices profiled under the Warren Court
Earl Warren
Presided over the most transformative era in the Court's modern history — Brown, Miranda, Reynolds v. Sims, Loving. Eisenhower is said to have called the appointment the biggest mistake he ever made.
John Marshall Harlan II
Grandson of the first Justice Harlan and the intellectual counterweight to the Warren Court's activism. His careful, process-oriented jurisprudence earned respect across the ideological spectrum.
William J. Brennan Jr.
The Warren Court's master strategist and coalition builder — his ability to craft majorities made him arguably the most influential associate justice of the 20th century.
Charles E. Whittaker
Suffered a nervous breakdown from the stress of the Court's contentious decisions — the first justice of the modern era to resign for health reasons.
Potter Stewart
Known for his immortal definition of obscenity — "I know it when I see it" — Stewart was a moderate Ohioan who resisted both liberal and conservative extremes.
Byron R. White
The only NFL player to serve on the Supreme Court — "Whizzer" White led the league in rushing before Yale Law. A centrist Democrat who defied ideological categorization for 31 years.
Arthur J. Goldberg
Resigned at LBJ's urging to become UN Ambassador — a decision he later called the greatest mistake of his life.
Abe Fortas
LBJ's closest judicial confidant. Resigned under an ethics cloud — the only justice in the 20th century forced from the Court under threat of impeachment.
Thurgood Marshall
The first African American justice — who had already changed America as the NAACP attorney who argued and won Brown v. Board of Education.