According to the Judiciary Act of 1789, there was one Chief Justice, John Jay, and five Associate Justices: James Wilson, William Cushing, John Blair, John Rutledge and James Iredell.
The first session of the Supreme Court was held in New York City’s Royal Exchange Building. In 1791, the Justices heard and decided on their first case, West v. Barnes. The case was a procedural decision, where the Court stated that an appeal must be issued within ten days by the Clerk of the Supreme Court and not by a lower court.
However, President George Washington decided to change the law, with the Judicial Act of 1792, stating that lower (circuit) courts are allowed to issue these appeals, allowing citizens who live far away from the capital to file easily.