 In 1853 , President Millard Fillmore offered to appoint Louisiana Senator Judah P. Benjamin to be the first Jewish justice , and the New York Times reported ( on February 15 , 1853 ) that " if the President nominates Benjamin , the Democrats are determined to confirm him " . However , Benjamin declined the offer , and ultimately became Secretary of State for the Confederacy during the Civil War . The first Jewish nominee , Louis Brandeis , was appointed in 1916 , after a tumultuous hearing process . The 1932 appointment of Benjamin Cardozo raised mild controversy for placing two Jewish justices on the Court at the same time , although the appointment was widely lauded based on Cardozo 's qualifications , and the Senate was unanimous in confirming Cardozo . 
