Benjamin Cardozo, an eminent American jurist, made significant contributions to the development of ‘common law’ in the United States. Despite not having a law degree, he became a Supreme Court justice and was only the second Jew to serve on the nation’s highest court. Known for his excellent reputation as a courtroom lawyer, Cardozo’s notable rulings, such as ‘Palsgraf vs. Long Island Railroad’ and ‘Mac Pherson vs. Buick Motor Co.’, solidified his place among the esteemed justices. As a deeply private and gentle man, he remained a bachelor throughout his life. Cardozo’s writings and opinions greatly influenced the evolution of American ‘common law’ and brought honor to both the United States and his Jewish heritage.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Benjamin Nathan Cardozo, Benjamin N. Cardozo
- Died At Age: 68
- Family:
- Father: Albert Jacob Cardozo
- Mother: Rebecca Washington Nathan
- Born Country: United States
- Judges
- American Men
- Died on: July 9, 1938
- Place of Death: Port Chester, New York, United States
- Notable Alumni: Columbia Law School
- Cause of Death: Heart Attack
- U.S. State: New Yorkers
- More Facts
- Education: Columbia Law School, Columbia College
Childhood & Early Life
He was born on May 24, 1870, in New York City, to Albert Jacob Cardozo, a judge on the Supreme Court of New York, and his wife, Rebecca Washington Nathan. His grandparents from both sides were Sephardi Jews of the Portuguese Jewish community.
In 1868, Albert was implicated in a judicial corruption scandal and resigned from the bench under the threat of impeachment. After leaving the court, Albert practiced law for several more years until his death in 1885.
He was one of the six children of his parents, including an elder sister, Nell, and a twin sister, Emily. In 1879, his mother died and thereafter, the twins were raised during much of their childhood by Nell, who was 11 years older.
He received his early education privately from writer Horatio Alger, a prolific author of 19th century. At the age of 15, he got enrolled at the Columbia University and graduated in 1889. Then he attended the Columbia Law School in a two-year law program.
In the midst of his studies, however, the faculty extended the program to three years. He declined to stay for an extra year, and thus left law school without a law degree. In 1891, he passed the bar and began practicing appellate law alongside his older brother.
Career
In November 1913, he was appointed on a 14-year term to the New York Supreme Court, and took office on January 1, 1914. But only a few weeks later, he was selected to become a temporary judge for the New York Court of Appeals.
In February 1914, under the Amendment of 1899, he was chosen to the New York Court of Appeals, and reportedly became the first Jew to serve on the Court of Appeals.
In January 1917, he was designated a regular seat on the Court of Appeals and in November 1917, he was elected on the Democratic and Republican tickets to a 14-year term on the Court of Appeals.
In 1926, he was elected to a 14-year term as Chief Judge on the Court of Appeals and he assumed office on January 1, 1927. He served as the chief judge for five years and resigned in March 1932 to accept an appointment in the United States Supreme Court.
In March 1932, he was appointed as the Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court by President Herbert Hoover. He served on the bench for six years, supporting much of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal initiatives, including Social Security programs, and helping shape the direction of criminal law.
In addition to being a judge, he was a co-founder of the ‘American Law Institute’ and served on the board of the ‘American Jewish Committee’. He was also a published author with notable works detailing his philosophies on the law, including ‘The Nature of the Judicial Process’ (1921) and ‘Law and Literature’ (1931).
Major Works
His time with the Court of Appeals was lauded for the caliber of its jurisprudence. He was a key figure in the 1916 automobile case of Macpherson v. Buick Motor Co.; the judgement of the case issued a pioneering ruling in issues concerning individual consumers and product liability. His decision in Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad Co. (1928) helped to redefine the concept of negligence in American tort law.
In his years as an Associate Justice, he handed down opinions that stressed the necessity for the tightest adherence to the Tenth Amendment. He wrote a majority opinion for Helvering v. Davis, 301 U.S. 619, and other Social Security cases (1937), upholding the federal Social Security program on the basis of the general welfare provision of the United States Constitution (Article I, section 8).
Personal Life & Legacy
He voluntarily chose to remain unmarried and led a celibate life. One of the supposed reasons behind this decision was his lifelong devotion towards his older sister Nell, with whom he lived in New York until her death in 1929.
He died on July 9, 1938, in Port Chester, New York, at the age of 68. His body was buried in Beth Olam Cemetery, Queens, New York.