How Did William Howard Taft Fill A Seat On The Supreme Court?

I. Introduction
William Howard Taft had desired to fill a seat on the Supreme Court throughout his distinguished career. Briefly considered for the Supreme Court as early as 1889, Taft accepted the position of Solicitor-General in 1890 with the hope that he would one day sit on the other side of the bench. Twice, however, he refused Theodore Roosevelt’s tender of appointment to the Supreme Court—to the seats vacated by Justices Shiras and Brown. Nellie Taft’s ambitions for the White House and Taft’s commitment to duties in the Philippines and the War Department forced Taft to decline Roosevelt’s nomination. Perhaps if Chief Justice Fuller retired or died, Taft would probably have chosen the Chief Justiceship over the Presidency. He had said
He sought to introduce into the judicial system “an executive principle to secure effective team work.” To accomplish this goal, Taft proposed annual meetings of the Chief Justice and the Senior Circuit Judges. The conference would make “a yearly plan for the massing of the new and old judicial force of the United States in those districts all over the country where the arrears” were, “threatening to interfere with the usefulness of courts.” Taft spoke passionately about the need for annual meetings and lobbied various interest groups from Congress to the American Bar Association. The Conference of Senior Circuit Judges, composed of the Chief Justice and nine Circuit Senior Judges, was established by the Act of September 14, 1922, to meet annually upon the summons of the Chief Justice. The Conference was to make a comprehensive survey of the condition of the business in the courts, prepare plans for the assignment of judges, and submit suggestions to the courts in the interest of uniformity and expedition of business. Taft proudly presided over the Conference, voted as a member, and appointed its committees, all the while serving as its staff and animating