Clarence Melville York (November 24, 1867 – June 20, 1906) was an American attorney who, in the 1890s, was one of the first law clerks to the justices of the Supreme Court of the United States.

York was born in Vineland, New Jersey, on November 24, 1867, and moved to Washington, D.C., in 1887.[1]

In June 1889, York graduated with a LL.B. from National University School of Law (now the George Washington University Law School) in Washington, D.C.[2][3] In 1890, he was a clerk at the United States General Land Office. From 1890 to 1896, York was a Supreme Court law clerk to Chief Justice Melville Fuller. He then clerked for Associate Justice Stephen Johnson Field from 1896 to 1897, before returning to clerk to Fuller from 1897 to 1905.[1][4] York is the longest-serving law clerk for the Court, his record of 17 years service equaled only by Frederick J. Haig.[5]

On June 20, 1906, York died in Washington, D.C.[6][7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Peppers, Todd C. (Winter 2010). "The Supreme Court and the Curse of the Gypsy" (PDF). Green Bag 2d. 13: 173–186. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  2. ^ "The National Law School, Graduates Who Will Receive Degrees Saturday Night". Evening Star (Washington, D.C.). Library of Congress Historic Newspapers. June 5, 1889. p. 8. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  3. ^ "National Law School Graduates". Evening star. (Washington, D.C.). Library of Congress Historic Newspaper. June 10, 1889. p. 8. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  4. ^ Peppers, Todd C. (2006). Courtiers of the Marble Palace: The Rise and Influence of the Supreme Court Law Clerk. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. p. 49. ISBN 0804753822. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  5. ^ Ward, Artemus; Weiden, David L. (2007). Sorcerers' Apprentices: 100 Years of Law Clerks at the United States Supreme Court. New York, NY: NYU Press. pp. 31–32. ISBN 978-0814794203. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  6. ^ "Meets Tragic Death, Clarence York's Fatal Fall from Hospital Window". Evening Star (Washington, D.C.). Library of Congress Historic Newspaper. June 20, 1906. p. 2. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  7. ^ "Was Due to Accident, Coroner's Certificate in Death of Clarence York". Evening Star (Washington, D.C.). Library of Congress Historic Newspapers. June 21, 1906. p. 12. Retrieved September 27, 2017.


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