PREPARATIONS MADE FOR SENATE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF SAMUEL CHASE
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 30, 1804, the United States Senate began preparations for the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase*.
Justice Chase, a Federalist, was accused of refusing to dismiss biased jurors and for excluding or limiting defense witnesses. Eight articles of impeachment were initiated by Representative John Randolph of Roanoke, Virginia.
According to the United States Senate website, Mr. Chase was a man with a "volcanic personality" who was unwilling to "tone down his bitter partisan rhetoric" after the Revolution of 1800 saw Thomas Jefferson's Democratic-Republican Party win control of the executive and legislative branches.
The trial began on February 4, 1805 and ended on March 1, 1805 with Samuel Chase's acquittal on all charges.
*Samuel Chase (1741-1811) was born in Maryland & served as a member of the Continental Congress 1774-1778. SC was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was appointed to the Supreme Court by President George Washington in 1796 and served until his death.
SOURCE
"Senate Prepares for Impeachment Trial", United States Senate, www.senate.gov/
Justice Samuel Chase
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 30, 1804, the United States Senate began preparations for the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase*.
Justice Chase, a Federalist, was accused of refusing to dismiss biased jurors and for excluding or limiting defense witnesses. Eight articles of impeachment were initiated by Representative John Randolph of Roanoke, Virginia.
According to the United States Senate website, Mr. Chase was a man with a "volcanic personality" who was unwilling to "tone down his bitter partisan rhetoric" after the Revolution of 1800 saw Thomas Jefferson's Democratic-Republican Party win control of the executive and legislative branches.
The trial began on February 4, 1805 and ended on March 1, 1805 with Samuel Chase's acquittal on all charges.
*Samuel Chase (1741-1811) was born in Maryland & served as a member of the Continental Congress 1774-1778. SC was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was appointed to the Supreme Court by President George Washington in 1796 and served until his death.
SOURCE
"Senate Prepares for Impeachment Trial", United States Senate, www.senate.gov/
Justice Samuel Chase
Portrait by
John Beale Bordley
Maryland State Archives
John Beale Bordley
Maryland State Archives
