Court appointees grew older as the nation matured

Evidence

Justices in the late nineteenth century were, on average, older men at the time of their appointment, than the justices earlier in the century. Young countries tend toward young leaders; older countries gravitate toward older leaders. Joseph Story was thirty-​two when he was named to the Court; William Strong, of Pennsylvania, confirmed in 1870 at the age of sixty-​two, was the first man over sixty ever appointed. — Lawrence M. Friedman, A History of American Law, 2199

Categorization

• CANDY: William Strong was the first justice appointed over sixty, and Joseph Story was only thirty-two — a nice pairing for idle conversation.