Journalists and pundits are noting that Elena Kagan’s
confirmation to the Supreme Court last week marks the first time three women have served concurrently on
the high court. However, Kagan’s confirmation marks another historic
occasion — the first time in 168 years that three Princetonians have shared
the bench.
While 2010’s trio consists of Samuel Alito ‘ 72, Sonia
Sotomayor ’76, and Elena Kagan ’81, the 1842 trio consisted of Smith Thompson
‘1788, Peter V. Daniel ‘1805, and James Moore Wayne ‘1808.
Justices Thompson
‘1788 (Undergraduate Alumni Records), Daniel ‘1805 (Dickinson University’s House Divided Project), and Wayne ‘1808 (Library of Congress).
