Hugo Black

Hugo Black
Current Court Information:
Supreme Court of the United States
Title:	Former Justice
Position:	Seat #2
Service:
Appointed by:	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Active:	8/18/1937 - 9/17/1971
Senior:	9/17/1971 - 9/25/1971
Preceded by:	Willis Van Devanter
Succeeded by:	Lewis Powell
Personal History
Born:	February 27, 1886
Home State:	Clay County, AL
Deceased:	September 25, 1971
Law School:	U. of Alabama Law, LL.B., 1906
Military service:	U.S. Army, 1917-1919

Hugo Lafayette Black (1886-1971) was an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. He joined the court in 1937 after an appointment from Franklin Delano Roosevelt. At the time of his appointment, he was a U.S. Senator representing Alabama. On September 17, 1971, he assumed senior status, serving in this capacity until his death on September 25, 1971.

Early life and education

• University of Alabama School of Law, LL.B., 1906

Military service

• U.S. Army Captain, 1917-1919

Professional career

• Private practice, Ashland, Alabama 1906-1907
• Private practice, Birmingham, Alabama, 1907-1917, 1919-1927
• Police court judge, Birmingham, Alabama, 1910-1911
• Prosecuting attorney, Birmingham, Alabama, 1914-1917
• U.S. Senator from Alabama, 1927-1937

Judicial career

Supreme Court of the United States

He was nominated by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on August 12, 1937 to replace Willis Van Devanter. He was confirmed by the Senate on August 17th, and received commission on August 18th. On September 17, 1971, he assumed senior status, serving in this capacity until his death on September 25, 1971. He was succeeded to this post by Lewis Powell.

Judicial philosophy

Quotes

• The public welfare demands that constitutional cases must be decided according to the terms of the Constitution itself, and not according to judges’ views of fairness, reasonableness, or justice.
• The layman's constitutional view is that what he likes is constitutional and that which he doesn't like is unconstitutional.
• It is my belief that there are “absolutes” in our Bill of Rights, and that they were put there on purpose by men who knew what the words meant and meant their prohibitions to be "absolutes."
• An unconditional right to say what one pleases about public affairs is what I consider to be the minimum guarantee of the First Amendment.
• I am for the First Amendment from the first word to the last. I believe it means what it says.
• The First Amendment has erected a wall between church and state. That wall must be kept high and impregnable. We could not approve the slightest breach.
• Compelling a man by law to pay his money to elect candidates or advocate law or doctrines he is against differs only in degree, if at all, from compelling him by law to speak for a candidate, a party, or a cause he is against. The very reason for the First Amendment is to make the people of this country free to think, speak, write and worship as they wish, not as the Government commands.
• The Press was protected so that it could bare the secrets of the government and inform the people. Only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government. And paramount among the responsibilities of a free press is the duty to prevent any part of the government from deceiving the people.
• The interest of the people lies in being able to join organizations, advocate causes, and make political “mistakes” without being subjected to governmental penalties.
• Without deviation, without exception, without any ifs, buts, or whereases, freedom of speech means that you shall not do something to people either for the views they express, or the words they speak or write.

See also

• Supreme Court of the United States

External links

• Justice Black's Biography from the Federal Judicial Center

References

Federal judicial offices
Preceded by: Willis Van Devanter	Supreme Court 1937–1971 Seat #2	Succeeded by: Lewis Powell