The first vacancy arose in July 1881 with the death of Associate Justice Nathan Clifford, a Democrat who had been a member of the Court since before the Civil War.[209] Arthur nominated Horace Gray, a distinguished jurist from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to replace him, and the nomination was easily confirmed.[209] Gray would serve on the Court for over 20 years until resigning in 1902.[210] The second vacancy occurred when Associate Justice Ward Hunt retired in January 1882. Arthur first nominated his old political boss, Roscoe Conkling; he doubted that Conkling would accept, but felt obligated to offer a high office to his former patron.[209] The Senate confirmed the nomination but, as expected, Conkling declined it,[209] the last time a confirmed nominee declined an appointment.[211] Senator George Edmunds was Arthur's next choice, but he declined to be considered.[212] Instead, Arthur nominated Samuel Blatchford, who had been a judge on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals for the prior four years.[209] Blatchford accepted, and his nomination was approved by the Senate within two weeks.[209] Blatchford served on the Court until his death in 1893.

