Louis Brandeis was a pioneering figure in American law and a tireless advocate for social justice. Born in 1856, Brandeis became the first Jewish justice appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson. Before his appointment, Brandeis was a renowned lawyer known for his work in public interest cases, particularly his advocacy for workers’ rights, privacy, and consumer protection. He was often called the “People’s Lawyer” for his efforts to fight against monopolies, corporate abuses, and social inequality. His involvement in cases like Muller v. Oregon, which led to the first legal recognition of the need for labor protections for women, solidified his reputation as a champion of progressive causes.
On the Supreme Court, Brandeis continued his work as a progressive reformer, advocating for the protection of civil liberties and the regulation of corporate power. He was a strong proponent of the right to privacy, which he famously articulated in his dissent in Olmstead v. United States, emphasizing the need to protect individuals from unnecessary government intrusion. Brandeis was also a staunch defender of the principle of limited government and was influential in the development of the judicial philosophy known as “Brandeisian” or “Brandeis Brief,” which emphasized empirical data and social science in legal arguments. His intellectual legacy, characterized by his commitment to justice, privacy, and civil liberties, continues to influence American law to this day.