Proposing for Nomination the First Jew to Sit on the Federal Bench

An important moment in American legal history.

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The first Jew appointed to the Federal bench was Jacob Trieber, a Republican from Arkansas who had supported US Grant.  This was 1900, long before the other more famous appointments.  Trieber was a practicing Jew and there was concern that his nomination to serve on the Federal bench might go over poorly...

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Proposing for Nomination the First Jew to Sit on the Federal Bench

An important moment in American legal history.

The first Jew appointed to the Federal bench was Jacob Trieber, a Republican from Arkansas who had supported US Grant.  This was 1900, long before the other more famous appointments.  Trieber was a practicing Jew and there was concern that his nomination to serve on the Federal bench might go over poorly at a time when anti-semitism was a larger issue in the US than it is today.

In July 1900, when a vacancy occurred in the federal judgeship for that district, Arkansas Republican state chair H.L. Remmel was invited to the White House to an interview with President McKinley and his political advisor, Mark Hanna. Remmel urged the President to appoint Trieber federal judge but specifically took up Trieber’s Jewish faith with the President to make sure he was aware. This is Remmel's letter to Trieber describing the meeting in great detail.  An important moment in American legal history.

Autograph letter signed, July 21, 1900, H.L. Remmel, to Jacob Trieber"My Dear Trieber, Have just come from interview with President.  There was present Senator Hanna (Mark, from Ohio), Judge Day (William, future Supreme Court Justice), and Col Herzick.

"The President greeted me by saying – How are you Remmel? Who do you want for Judge?  This gave me my opportunity in the presence of all these gentlemen and I used it… I then gave the President the brief of your endorsement and he read them aloud.  I then took up your religious faith.  He referred to his recent action in appointing  a (Jewish) judge for Puerto Rico. I assured him your appointment would be appreciated as the highest compliment to your people.  He was especially solicitous regarding your ability as a lawyer, your integrity, and your private life all of which of course I enlarged upon…"

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