Description
George Shiras Jr. practiced law for thirty-seven years specializing in railroad and corporate law. President Benjamin Harrison nominated Shiras as an associate justice to the Supreme Court in 1892. In Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) he voted with the majority upholding the constitutionality of racial segregation under the doctrine of “separate but equal.” In 1954, the Court effectively overruled that doctrine. In the case Pollock v. Farmers’ Loan & Trust Co. Shiras sided with the majority to strike down the Income Tax Act of 1894 as unconstitutional. This ruling led to the need for the Sixteenth Amendment in 1913 that imposed a federal income tax.
US Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest federal court of the United States, established in 1788 pursuant to Article Three of the U.S. Constitution. It has the ultimate jurisdiction over all federal and state court cases involving federal laws. The Court normally consists of the Chief Justice and eight associate justices, who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Justices have lifetime tenure unless they resign, retire or are removed after impeachment. The Supreme Court is one of the three branches of the federal government which also includes the Executive (President) and Legislative (Senate and House of Representatives).
This U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice George Shiras Jr. History Mug is part of our U.S. Supreme Court series which includes all the U.S. Supreme Court Justices.
The biographical History Mugs were created to teach and inspire individuals to learn about our diverse and interesting history. The biographies were researched and written by history enthusiast, Robert Compton. He colorized most of the historic photos and images used on the mugs, which were originally black and white or sepia-tone. The images and biographies are imprinted on mugs at his studio in rural Vermont.
- Mugs are food and microwave safe.
- To preserve photographic quality we recommend hand washing.
- Mugs are usually shipped within 3-5 days.
