In 1910, Congress established the Commerce Court to hear appeals from decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commission – established in 1887 to regulate the nation’s railroads – as well as to enforce the Commission’s orders. As provided for in the statute, President William Taft appointed five judges to serve staggered terms on the Commerce Court while appointing them to different U.S. circuit courts of appeals at the same time. The court was controversial, having been created over the objections of many in Congress, and in 1913 it was abolished and its jurisdiction transferred to the U.S. district courts. The judges of the court continued to serve on the courts of appeals, with the exception of Robert Archbald, who was impeached and removed from office in 1913.
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