John Jay (1745-1829) was a New York lawyer, diplomat, Founding Father, and the first Chief Justice of the United States. He helped draft New York's first constitution, served in the Continental Congress, negotiated the Treaty of Paris, directed American foreign affairs under the Articles of Confederation, and helped secure ratification of the Constitution. As Chief Justice, Jay helped establish the institutional character of the new Supreme Court before resigning to become Governor of New York.

William Paterson (1745-1806) was an Irish-born American lawyer, signer of the Constitution, U.S. senator, governor of New Jersey, and Supreme Court justice. Deeply involved in the creation of the federal government, he became one of the Court's most important early interpreters of federal power. Paterson remained on the Court until his death in 1806 and helped establish an early constitutional jurisprudence grounded in text, structure, and the principles of the founding.

James Madison (1751 – 1836) was an American statesman, political theorist, and Founding Father who played a central role in drafting and ratifying the United States Constitution, earning him the title “Father of the Constitution.” He co-authored the influential The Federalist Papers with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, helped draft the Bill of Rights, and served as the fourth President of the United States from 1809 to 1817.

Gabriel Duvall (1752-1844) was a Maryland lawyer, Revolutionary-era public official, congressman, and federal judge who served on the Supreme Court for nearly twenty-four years. President James Madison appointed him in 1811, and he became one of the quieter members of the Marshall Court, generally joining the Court's majority rather than writing extensively on his own. He retired in 1835 and lived nearly another decade, dying in Maryland in 1844.

Alexander Hamilton (1755/57-1804) was a Caribbean-born American statesman, soldier, lawyer, and Founding Father who played a role in the American Revolution and the creation of the U. S. Constitution. As the first Secretary of the Treasury, he established much of the nation's early financial system and became a leading advocate for a strong federal government. He was killed in a duel with Aaron Burr in 1804.

Alfred Moore (1755-1810) was a North Carolina lawyer, Revolutionary officer, state attorney general, and Supreme Court justice. He served briefly on the Supreme Court during the early Marshall Court but was already in poor health when President John Adams appointed him in 1799. Moore's participation in Marbury v. Madison and other foundational cases places him among the judges who helped establish the early federal judiciary.