History Briefs - The First Supreme Court

On September 24, 1789 the Judiciary Act of 1789 was passed by Congress and signed by President George Washington. This established the newly formed Supreme Court of the US as a tribunal. It consisted of 6 justices who were to serve until death or retirement. The first Chief Justice was John Jay and the Associate Justices were John Rutledge, John Blair, Robert Harrison, James Wilson and William Cushing.
Established by Article 3 of the US Constitution, it granted the Supreme Court ultimate jurisdiction over all laws. It was also designated to oversee cases concerning foreign diplomats, maritime jurisdiction, admiralty practice and concerning treaties of the US. The first-ever session of the Supreme Court was on 1 Feb 1790 in New York at the Royal Exchange Building.