Handwritten Letter signed by James Clark McReynolds - Autograph - Supreme Court

Handwritten Letter signed by J.C. McReynolds.

James Clark McReynolds (February 3, 1862 – August 24, 1946) was a prominent American attorney and jurist from Tennessee, who held the position of United States Attorney General under President Woodrow Wilson and later served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. His tenure on the Court spanned from 1914 until his retirement in 1941. McReynolds is particularly noted for his persistent resistance to the domestic initiatives of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, as well as for his controversial personality, which was often perceived negatively and included documented instances of overt antisemitism and racism. Born in Elkton, Kentucky, McReynolds pursued a legal career in Tennessee after earning his degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. He gained recognition as the U.S. Assistant Attorney General during President Theodore Roosevelt's administration, particularly for his expertise in antitrust litigation.

Following Wilson's inauguration in 1913, McReynolds was appointed as the first attorney general of his administration. In 1914, Wilson nominated him to the Supreme Court to fill the vacancy left by the passing of Associate Justice Horace Harmon Lurton. Throughout his 26 years on the bench, McReynolds authored 506 majority opinions and 157 dissents, with 93 of those dissenting opinions directed against the New Deal. He was a member of the "Four Horsemen," a group of conservative justices known for their frequent opposition to New Deal legislation. He took senior status in 1941 and was succeeded by James F. Byrnes. During his time on the Supreme Court, McReynolds wrote the majority opinions in significant cases such as Meyer v. Nebraska, United States v. Miller, Adams v. Tanner, and Pierce v. Society of Sisters. Due to his temperament, prejudices, and opposition to the FDR administration's domestic policies, McReynolds is often cited among the least favorable justices in Supreme Court history.

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