The Jay, Rutledge, and Ellsworth Courts (1789–1800)Decisions |
Who argued the case for Alexander Chisholm? |
Remarkably, U.S. attorney general Edmund Randolph argued the case as a private attorney on behalf of Alexander Chisholm. In those days, government attorneys could supplement their income by taking private cases. Randolph was unopposed by the state of Georgia. The Supreme Court reporter, Alexander Dallas, submitted a written response from the state’s lawyers but no one personally appeared to argue on the state’s behalf.

John Jay, the nation’s first U.S. Supreme Court chief justice. Hulton Archive/Getty Images.