William Suter
Encyclopedia
William K. Suter is the 19th and current Clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States
, a position he has held since 1991. The clerk's responsibilities include managing the Supreme Court
's docket and calendar and overseeing the Supreme Court Bar. The clerk also attends all oral arguments at the Court.
Suter is a retired major general
in the United States Army
. At the time of his retirement from the Army in 1990 he had served for over a year as the acting Judge Advocate General
. He had previously served as the Assistant Judge Advocate General of the Army, Chief Judge of the U.S. Army Court of Military Review (now called the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals), Commander of the U.S. Army Legal Services Agency, and Commandant of the Judge Advocate General's School. During his military service, General Suter was awarded the Bronze Star
for his service during the Vietnam War and the Distinguished Service Medal
. Suter obtained a B.A.
from Trinity University
and his law degree
from Tulane University
. He was admitted to the bar in 1962.
As a captain in the mid-1960s, Suter was a popular instructor of administrative law to hundreds of new judge advocates attending their initial training at the Judge Advocate General's School in Charlottesville, Virginia
. Before moving on to his next assignment in Thailand
, he attended airborne training at Fort Benning
, Georgia, and won his parachutist badge. His other military assignments included service as the Chief of Personnel, Plans, and Training, for the Judge Advocate General's Corps
, and Staff Judge Advocate for the 101st Airborne Division, where his division commander was future Army Chief of Staff John Wickham. General Suter has been a leader among retired judge advocates and a mentor to hundreds of lawyers.
General Suter was nominated by President George H. W. Bush
in 1989 to be Judge Advocate General of the Army. He retired after his and other nominations were returned by the Senate with criticism of Judge Advocate General's Corps
personnel actions that it linked to allegations about unlawful command influence in the 3rd Armored Division in 1982 (see Senate Report 102-1, 102d Congress, 1st Session (Jan. 3, 1991)). Ironically, the Court of Military Review under Chief Judge Suter reversed a number of court-martial convictions arising from these allegations.
To distinguish him from former Supreme Court Associate Justice David Souter
, Suter is often referred to within the Supreme Court by the nickname "The General" or as "General Suter". General Suter is a prolific speaker about the Court. A popular figure in the national bar, he has received numerous honors for his frequent outreach efforts, including honorary degrees. A college basketball player, General Suter has been known throughout his career for his love of the sport. At the Court, he was known for playing basketball with law clerks on the "highest court in the land".
Clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States
The Clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States is the officer of the Supreme Court of the United States responsible for overseeing filings with the Court and maintaining its records. The current Clerk is William Suter, who has served since 1991.-History:...
, a position he has held since 1991. The clerk's responsibilities include managing the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
's docket and calendar and overseeing the Supreme Court Bar. The clerk also attends all oral arguments at the Court.
Suter is a retired major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. At the time of his retirement from the Army in 1990 he had served for over a year as the acting Judge Advocate General
Judge Advocate General's Corps
Judge Advocate General's Corps, also known as JAG or JAG Corps, refers to the legal branch or specialty of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy. Officers serving in the JAG Corps are typically called Judge Advocates. The Marine Corps and Coast Guard do not maintain separate JAG Corps...
. He had previously served as the Assistant Judge Advocate General of the Army, Chief Judge of the U.S. Army Court of Military Review (now called the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals), Commander of the U.S. Army Legal Services Agency, and Commandant of the Judge Advocate General's School. During his military service, General Suter was awarded the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
for his service during the Vietnam War and the Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
. Suter obtained a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Trinity University
Trinity University (Texas)
Trinity University is a private, independent, primarily undergraduate, university in San Antonio, Texas. Its campus is located in the Monte Vista Historic District and adjacent to Brackenridge Park....
and his law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
from Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
. He was admitted to the bar in 1962.
As a captain in the mid-1960s, Suter was a popular instructor of administrative law to hundreds of new judge advocates attending their initial training at the Judge Advocate General's School in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
. Before moving on to his next assignment in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, he attended airborne training at Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, Georgia, and won his parachutist badge. His other military assignments included service as the Chief of Personnel, Plans, and Training, for the Judge Advocate General's Corps
Judge Advocate General's Corps
Judge Advocate General's Corps, also known as JAG or JAG Corps, refers to the legal branch or specialty of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy. Officers serving in the JAG Corps are typically called Judge Advocates. The Marine Corps and Coast Guard do not maintain separate JAG Corps...
, and Staff Judge Advocate for the 101st Airborne Division, where his division commander was future Army Chief of Staff John Wickham. General Suter has been a leader among retired judge advocates and a mentor to hundreds of lawyers.
General Suter was nominated by President George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
in 1989 to be Judge Advocate General of the Army. He retired after his and other nominations were returned by the Senate with criticism of Judge Advocate General's Corps
Judge Advocate General's Corps
Judge Advocate General's Corps, also known as JAG or JAG Corps, refers to the legal branch or specialty of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy. Officers serving in the JAG Corps are typically called Judge Advocates. The Marine Corps and Coast Guard do not maintain separate JAG Corps...
personnel actions that it linked to allegations about unlawful command influence in the 3rd Armored Division in 1982 (see Senate Report 102-1, 102d Congress, 1st Session (Jan. 3, 1991)). Ironically, the Court of Military Review under Chief Judge Suter reversed a number of court-martial convictions arising from these allegations.
To distinguish him from former Supreme Court Associate Justice David Souter
David Souter
David Hackett Souter is a former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He served from 1990 until his retirement on June 29, 2009. Appointed by President George H. W. Bush to fill the seat vacated by William J...
, Suter is often referred to within the Supreme Court by the nickname "The General" or as "General Suter". General Suter is a prolific speaker about the Court. A popular figure in the national bar, he has received numerous honors for his frequent outreach efforts, including honorary degrees. A college basketball player, General Suter has been known throughout his career for his love of the sport. At the Court, he was known for playing basketball with law clerks on the "highest court in the land".