In the interest of full disclosure, the Commonplace Fun Facts editorial staff admits that we have a profound love of the state of Colorado. Its rich natural beauty and cultural heritage make […]
Colorado’s Constitution Describes the Wrong Boundaries
How a Stolen Election Propelled LBJ to the White House
A hotly-contested election. Polling data says the outcome is too close to predict. As the polls close, one of the candidates seems to have won. Shortly thereafter, votes are “discovered” for the […]
Which Presidents Took the Oath of Office the Most Times?
Presidential trivia aficionados are quick to identify the president who was in office the least amount of time (William Henry Harrison) and the one who served the longest (Franklin D. Roosevelt). There […]
What is the Difference Between a Judge and a Law Student?
The first Monday of October is the traditional beginning of the U.S. Supreme Court’s term. In honor of the occasion and with all due respect to the nine justices who are about […]
On July 27 Take Your Pants For a Walk
Getting up and taking a walk is one of the best ways to improve your health. It burns calories, sharpens the mind, and strengthens bones. When walking, it is generally a good […]
What Can You Expect With a Name Like Millard Fillmore?
Some people seem destined for greatness on the basis of their names, alone. Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, for example, may have achieved success as secretary of the interior and associate justice of […]
Taking Comfort by Looking in the Face of Imperfection
In her four years as First Lady of the United States, Barbara Bush had plenty of opportunities to contemplate the White House and its priceless artifacts. While some might gravitate toward the […]
Did a Missing Constitutional Amendment Take Away the Citizenship of All Lawyers?
“The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers!” (Henry VI, Part 2, Act IV, Scene 2). When William Shakespeare wrote those infamous words about lawyers in 1591, he parodied the […]
A Crazy, Messed Up, Fraudulent, Stolen Election — (Not the One You’re Thinking Of)
The Presidential election was an absolute mess. After a long, nasty, contentious campaign, the voting was over, but the outcome was far from clear. Both sides claimed victory. The Democrats pointed to […]
The Chief Justice Who Had All of His Trial Cases Reversed on Appeal
As noted in this article, there is no requirement that a person has prior judicial experience to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court (or any real requirements, for that matter). While there […]
Having 9 Justices Is Not Supremely Set in Stone
With the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg creating a vacancy in the United States Supreme Court, membership of the high court is down to eight. Much attention is focused on who […]
The Loneliness of Originality
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841-1935) is one of the most-widely quotes Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. His concise and pithy judicial opinions reflect his sharp and creative […]
How to Steal an Airplane Without Breaking the Law
William McBoyle stole an airplane, and it was perfectly legal. Just to be clear, he actually took possession of someone else’s aircraft without their permission and never gave it back. Even so, […]
The Postmaster General is the Second-Highest Paid Person in U.S. Government
If the importance of a position is measured by the paycheck, it makes sense that the President of the United States draws the biggest salary of federal government officials. Using salary as […]
Supreme Court Justice Job Opening: Law Degree Optional
If you have ever wanted a top-level job in the federal government but feel that you don’t have the necessary education or experience, look no further than a spot on the Supreme […]
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