Chilton Varner Honored for Service to the Supreme Court Historical Society
Chilton Davis Varner of King and Spalding was recognized for her service as long time President of the Supreme Court Historical Society on October 16. Now President Emeritus of the Society, she has dedicated years to the not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to preserving and collecting the history of the Supreme Court of the United States, increasing public awareness of the Court’s contribution to our nation’s rich constitutional heritage, and acquiring knowledge covering the history of the entire Judicial Branch. In its Opperman House Library, the Society houses one of the finest collections of judicial biographies, Justices’ writings, and histories of the Court. The Society conducts educational programs for students and teachers, and programs of interest to legal practitioners, scholars, historians, and the general public. The Society supports historical research, promotes scholarship, and engages in civic education outreach. It also funds a print and digital publishing program that produces the Journal of Supreme Court History, reference books, documentary history, webcasts, and civic documentaries. Additionally, the Society identifies and acquires artworks, furniture, documents and artifacts of significance to Supreme Court history that are incorporated into exhibits prepared by the Supreme Court Curator’s Office for the benefit of the Court’s one million annual visitors.
In her law practice, Chilton represents clients in mass tort litigation, class actions and multi-district litigation. She has served as trial and appellate counsel for a number of the country’s largest pharmaceutical, medical device and automotive manufacturers. Chilton was appointed to the Federal Civil Rules Advisory Committee by Chief Justice William Rehnquist in 2004 and reappointed by Chief Justice John Roberts in 2007, where she participated in drafting amendments governing electronic discovery and changes to the rules governing summary judgment, expert discovery and information-gathering from third parties and corporate executives. In 2012-13, Chilton was President of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
“Much of the history of the Supreme Court can be found in memorabilia, art, and documents that have gathered dust for too long in storerooms and attics. Some have been lost forever, because of carelessness, or neglect, or the failure to appreciate their worth, or the absence of any plan to preserve them. I am confident that the Society will reverse that trend and will acquire significant materials and preserve them for future generations. Equally important, it will encourage research on all aspects of the Court and on the rich and varied traditions and personalities that are part of its history.”
— Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, November 1974
