Supreme Court / Appointed 1939 / Served to 1962
Portrait of Felix Frankfurter

Felix Frankfurter

Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States

Appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 and confirmed by voice vote, Felix Frankfurter was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He earned a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1906. 153 opinions of the Court ↓ Sources ↓

Lived
1882–1965
Appointed by
Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1939
Confirmed
by voice vote
Education
City College of New York 1902 · Harvard Law School 1906

Federal judicial service

YearCourtAppointed byVote
1939Supreme CourtF.D. Roosevelt (D)Voice vote

Party letters show the appointing president’s party, not the judge’s own. A voice vote means the chamber approved aloud. No senator-by-senator tally is recorded.

Confirmation vote

Voice vote

The Senate approved this confirmation aloud, with no senator-by-senator tally recorded. Recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989.

Education

Opinions of the Court

Frankfurter delivered 153 opinions of the Court in the covered window (October Term 1946 – October Term 1961). Most cited: Universal Camera Corp. v. National Labor Relations Board (8,363 citations).

YearCaseCitationCited
1962Kesler v. Department of Public Safety of Utah369 U.S. 153 (1962)158
1962Dibella v. United States369 U.S. 121 (1962)657
1962Organized Village of Kake et al. v. Egan, Governor of Alaska369 U.S. 60 (1962)328
1962Metlakatla Indian Community, Annette Islands Reserve, v. Egan, Governor of Alaska, et al.369 U.S. 45 (1962)
1961Culombe v. Connecticut367 U.S. 568 (1961)1662
1961Piemonte v. United States367 U.S. 556 (1961)131
1961Poe et al. v. Ullman, State'S Attorney367 U.S. 497 (1961)1202
1961Gori v. United States367 U.S. 364 (1961)679
1961Communist Party of the United States v. Subversive Activities Control Board367 U.S. 1 (1961)481
1961Local 761, International Union of Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers, Aflcio v. National Labor Relations Board et al.366 U.S. 667 (1961)278
1961Pan American Petroleum Corp. v. Superior Court of Delaware for New Castle County et al.366 U.S. 656 (1961)231
1961Rogers v. Richmond, Warden365 U.S. 534 (1961)1412
1961Green v. United States365 U.S. 301 (1961)734
1961United States v. Fruehauf et al.365 U.S. 146 (1961)191
1961Callanan v. United States364 U.S. 587 (1961)584
1960Gomillion et al. v. Lightfoot, Mayor of Tuskegee, et al.364 U.S. 339 (1960)1079
1960United States v. Dege et Vir.364 U.S. 51 (1960)
1960Metlakatla Indian Community, Annette Island Reserve, v. Egan, Governor of Alaska, et al.363 U.S. 555 (1960)
1960Clay v. Sun Insurance Office Limited363 U.S. 207 (1960)271
1960De Veau v. Braisted363 U.S. 144 (1960)494
1960Levine v. United States362 U.S. 610 (1960)408
1960Mitchell, Secretary of Labor, v. H. B. Zachry Co.362 U.S. 310 (1960)151
1960Jones v. United States362 U.S. 257 (1960)4796
1960Abel, Alias Mark, Alias Collins, Alias Goldfus, v. United States362 U.S. 217 (1960)1485
1959Pennsylvania Railroad Co. v. Day, Administrator360 U.S. 548 (1959)128
1959Rosenberg v. United States360 U.S. 367 (1959)255
1959Palermo v. United States360 U.S. 343 (1959)766
1959Safeway Stores, Inc., v. Oklahoma Retail Grocers Association, Inc., et al.360 U.S. 334 (1959)
1959Louisiana Power & Light Co. v. City of Thibodaux360 U.S. 25 (1959)647
1959Frank v. Maryland359 U.S. 360 (1959)306
1959United States v. Shirey359 U.S. 255 (1959)
1959San Diego Building Trades Council et al. v. Garmon et al.359 U.S. 236 (1959)2980
1959Bartkus v. Illinois359 U.S. 121 (1959)1084
1959New York v. O'Neill359 U.S. 1 (1959)111
1959Romero v. International Terminal Operating Co. et al.358 U.S. 354 (1959)1043
1958Gore v. United States357 U.S. 386 (1958)885
1958Knapp v. Schweitzer, Judge of the Court of General Sessions, et al.357 U.S. 371 (1958)120
1958National Labor Relations Board v. United Steelworkers of America, CIO, et al.357 U.S. 357 (1958)106
1958Wiener v. United States357 U.S. 349 (1958)223
1958McKinney v. Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad Co. et al.357 U.S. 265 (1958)140
1958Local 1976, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, a. F. L., et al. v. National Labor Relations Board357 U.S. 93 (1958)303
1958International Association of Machinists et al. v. Gonzales356 U.S. 617 (1958)318
1958Perez v. Brownell, Attorney General356 U.S. 44 (1958)129
1958Brown v. United States356 U.S. 148 (1958)735
1957Rowoldt v. Perfetto, Acting Officer in Charge, Immigration and Naturalization Service355 U.S. 115 (1957)
1957Mallory v. United States354 U.S. 449 (1957)1364
1957Kingsley Books, Inc., et al. v. Brown, Corporation Counsel354 U.S. 436 (1957)484
1957International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 695, a. F. L., et al. v. Vogt, Inc.354 U.S. 284 (1957)229
1957Theard v. United States354 U.S. 278 (1957)358
1957Achilli v. United States353 U.S. 373 (1957)
1957United States v. Witkovich353 U.S. 194 (1957)128
1957Alleghany Corporation et al. v. Breswick & Co. et al.353 U.S. 151 (1957)
1957United States v. International Union United Automobile, Aircraft and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (uaw-Cio)352 U.S. 567 (1957)257
1957Butler v. Michigan352 U.S. 380 (1957)344
1957Leiter Minerals, Inc., v. United States et al.352 U.S. 220 (1957)299
1956Bank of America National Trust & Savings Association v. Parnell352 U.S. 29 (1956)168
1956Offutt Housing Co. v. County of Sarpy et al.351 U.S. 253 (1956)101
1956Communist Party of the United States v. Subversive Activities Control Board351 U.S. 115 (1956)111
1956Collins et al. v. American Buslines, Inc. et al.350 U.S. 528 (1956)
1956Millinery Center Building Corp. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue350 U.S. 456 (1956)
1956Ullmann v. United States350 U.S. 422 (1956)666
1956Greenwood v. United States350 U.S. 366 (1956)310
1956National Labor Relations Board v. Cocacola Bottling Co. of Louisville, Inc.350 U.S. 264 (1956)
1956United States v. Minker350 U.S. 179 (1956)
1955Indian Towing Co., Inc., et al. v. United States350 U.S. 61 (1955)1289
1955Williams v. Georgia349 U.S. 375 (1955)156
1955Whitehouse et al. v. Illinois Central Railroad Co. et al.349 U.S. 366 (1955)130
1955Bell v. United States349 U.S. 81 (1955)1300
1955Rice v. Sioux City Memorial Park Cemetery, Inc. et al.349 U.S. 70 (1955)
1955Granville-Smith v. Granville-Smith349 U.S. 1 (1955)
1955Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America et al. v. Richman Brothers Co.348 U.S. 511 (1955)280
1955Weber et al. v. Anheuser-Busch, Inc.348 U.S. 468 (1955)413
1955Association of Westinghouse Salaried Employees v. Westinghouse Electric Corp.348 U.S. 437 (1955)350
1955National City Bank of New York v. Republic of China et al.348 U.S. 356 (1955)201
1954Brooks v. National Labor Relations Board348 U.S. 96 (1954)424
1954Offutt v. United States348 U.S. 11 (1954)1331
1954Secretary of Agriculture v. United States et al.347 U.S. 645 (1954)177
1954Galvan v. Press, Officer in Charge, Immigration and Naturalization Service347 U.S. 522 (1954)577
1954Maryland Casualty Co. et al. v. Cushing et al.347 U.S. 409 (1954)222
1954Thompson v. Lawson, Deputy Commissioner of the United States Bureau of Employees Compensation, et al.347 U.S. 334 (1954)
1954St. Joe Paper Co. et al. v. Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Co.347 U.S. 298 (1954)
1954International Longshoremen'S and Warehousemen'S Union, Local 37, et al. v. Boyd, District Director, Immigration and Naturalization Service347 U.S. 222 (1954)190
1954Walder v. United States347 U.S. 62 (1954)1024
1953Olberding, Doing Business as Vess Transfer Co., et al. v. Illinois Central Railroad Co., Inc.346 U.S. 338 (1953)258
1953Federal Communications Commission v. Rca Communications, Inc.346 U.S. 86 (1953)216
1953Automatic Canteen Company of America v. Federal Trade Commission346 U.S. 61 (1953)155
1953Levinson et al. v. Deupree, Ancillary Administrator345 U.S. 648 (1953)164
1953Calmar Steamship Corp. v. United States345 U.S. 446 (1953)
1953Calmar Steamship Corp. v. Scott et al.345 U.S. 427 (1953)
1953United States Ex Rel. Chapman, Secretary of the Interior, v. Federal Power Commission et al.345 U.S. 153 (1953)140
1953United States v. Rumely345 U.S. 41 (1953)445
1953City of Chicago v. Willett Company344 U.S. 574 (1953)
1953De La Rama Steamship Co., Inc. v. United States344 U.S. 386 (1953)
1953National Labor Relations Board v. Seven-Up Bottling Company of Miami, Inc.344 U.S. 344 (1953)537
1952United States v. Universal C. I. T. Credit Corporation et al.344 U.S. 218 (1952)657
1952Beauharnais v. Illinois343 U.S. 250 (1952)480
1952United States v. Hood et al.343 U.S. 148 (1952)
1952Far East Conference et al. v. United States et al.342 U.S. 570 (1952)767
1952Mullaney, Commissioner of Taxation of the Territory of Alaska, v. Anderson et al.342 U.S. 415 (1952)219
1952Guessefeldt v. McGrath, Attorney General, Successor to the Alien Property Custodian, et al.342 U.S. 308 (1952)
1952Kerotest Manufacturing Co. v. C-O-Two Fire Equipment Co.342 U.S. 180 (1952)972
1952Rochin v. California342 U.S. 165 (1952)3286
1951Stefanelli et al. v. Minard et al.342 U.S. 117 (1951)464
1951Bindczyck v. Finucane, Chairman of the Board of Immigration Appeals, et al.342 U.S. 76 (1951)
1951Tenney et al. v. Brandhove341 U.S. 367 (1951)1470
1951United States v. Williams et al.341 U.S. 70 (1951)132
1951West Virginia Ex Rel. Dyer et al. v. Sims, State Auditor341 U.S. 22 (1951)166
195162 Cases of Jam et al. v. United States340 U.S. 593 (1951)190
1951O'Leary, Deputy Commissioner, Fourteenth Compensation District, v. Brown-Pacific-Maxon, Inc. et al.340 U.S. 504 (1951)458
1951National Labor Relations Board v. Pittsburgh Steamship Co.340 U.S. 498 (1951)140
1951Universal Camera Corp. v. National Labor Relations Board340 U.S. 474 (1951)8363
1950Missouri Ex Rel. Southern Railway Co. v. Mayfield, Circuit Court Judge340 U.S. 1 (1950)172
1950Swift & Company Packers et al. v. Compania Colombiana Del Caribe, S. a. et al.339 U.S. 684 (1950)436
1950Skelly Oil Co. et al. v. Phillips Petroleum Co.339 U.S. 667 (1950)1625
1950Quicksall v. Michigan339 U.S. 660 (1950)
1950International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Etc. Union, Local 309, et al. v. Hanke et al., Doing Business as Atlas Auto Rebuild339 U.S. 470 (1950)201
1950Hughes et al. v. Superior Court of California for Contra Costa County339 U.S. 460 (1950)350
1950United States v. Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co.339 U.S. 261 (1950)
1950Secretary of Agriculture v. Central Roig Refining Co. et al.338 U.S. 604 (1950)123
1949Parker et al. v. County of Los Angeles et al.338 U.S. 327 (1949)
1949Lustig v. United States338 U.S. 74 (1949)415
1949Harris v. South Carolina338 U.S. 68 (1949)204
1949Turner v. Pennsylvania338 U.S. 62 (1949)277
1949Watts v. Indiana338 U.S. 49 (1949)831
1949Wolf v. Colorado338 U.S. 25 (1949)1554
1949Kimball Laundry Co. v. United States338 U.S. 1 (1949)443
1949Aeronautical Industrial District Lodge 727 v. Campbell et al.337 U.S. 521 (1949)124
1949Standard Oil Company of California et al. v. United States337 U.S. 293 (1949)495
1949Joy Oil Co., Ltd. v. State Tax Commission337 U.S. 286 (1949)
1949Griffin v. United States336 U.S. 704 (1949)107
1949Black Diamond Steamship Corp. v. Robert Stewart & Sons, Ltd. et al.336 U.S. 386 (1949)
1949Algoma Plywood & Veneer Co. v. Wisconsin Employment Relations Board336 U.S. 301 (1949)172
1948Goesaert et al. v. Cleary et al., Members of the Liquor Control Commission of Michigan335 U.S. 464 (1948)298
1948Ford Motor Co. v. United States335 U.S. 303 (1948)
1948Ludecke v. Watkins, District Director of Immigration335 U.S. 160 (1948)201
1948Central Greyhound Lines, Inc. v. Mealey et al.334 U.S. 653 (1948)172
1948United States v. John J. Felin & Co., Inc.334 U.S. 624 (1948)
1948Republic Natural Gas Co. v. Oklahoma et al.334 U.S. 62 (1948)121
1948Bakery Sales Drivers Local Union No. 33 et al. v. Wagshal, Trading as Wagshal'S Delicatessen333 U.S. 437 (1948)
1948Eccles et al. v. Peoples Bank of Lakewood Village, California333 U.S. 426 (1948)423
1947Federal Crop Insurance Corp. v. Merrill et al., Doing Business as Merrill Bros.332 U.S. 380 (1947)1581
1947Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Co. v. Phillips, State Revenue Commissioner332 U.S. 168 (1947)
1947Caldarola v. Eckert et al., Doing Business as Thor Eckert & Co.332 U.S. 155 (1947)101
1947Gayes v. New York332 U.S. 145 (1947)
1947Foster et al. v. Illinois332 U.S. 134 (1947)159
1947United States v. Dickinson331 U.S. 745 (1947)505
1947Bazley v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue331 U.S. 737 (1947)177
1947Mexican Light & Power Co., Ltd. v. Texas Mexican Railway Co.331 U.S. 731 (1947)
1947National Labor Relations Board v. Donnelly Garment Co. et al.330 U.S. 219 (1947)171
1947Angel v. Bullington330 U.S. 183 (1947)644
1946United States v. Ruzicka et al., Trading as Seeley Dairy329 U.S. 287 (1946)142
1946Freeman, Trustee, v. Hewit, Director of Gross Income Tax Division329 U.S. 249 (1946)388
1946Carter v. Illinois329 U.S. 173 (1946)216

Opinions of the Court only: the Court’s slip-opinion tables don’t list dissents or concurrences separately. Earlier opinions arrive with the bound-volume ingest. Browse all Supreme Court opinions.

Questions & answers

Who appointed Felix Frankfurter?
President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Felix Frankfurter to the Supreme Court of the United States in 1939.
Was Felix Frankfurter appointed by a Democrat or a Republican?
Felix Frankfurter was appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Democrat. JudicialFinder records the appointing president's party, not a judge's own politics.
What was Felix Frankfurter's confirmation vote?
Felix Frankfurter was confirmed by voice vote on January 17, 1939. No senator-by-senator tally was recorded.
Which court was Felix Frankfurter on?
Felix Frankfurter was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Sources

Each fact on this page traces to a primary public record.

How we source & reconcile data → Data & Sources

See something wrong? Report an error. Fixes are logged in the corrections log.

23 years on the Supreme Court of the United States. Data as of 2026-08-10. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).