Supreme Seats

The Friday File: While it’s been 404 days since the death of Antonin Scalia, the longest Supreme Court vacancy isn’t in jeopardy. That record is 841 days and ended when Robert Grier took Henry Baldwin’s seat on 8/10/1846. However, since Congress settled on a nine-justice panel in 1869, the longest vacancy had, until just weeks ago, been 391 days. That vacancy ended on 6/9/1970 when Harry Blackmun replaced Abe Fortas.