Black, Hugo L. (1886–1971)

Hugo Lafayette Black served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from August 17, 1937, to September 17, 1971. His 34 years on the high Court make him one of the longest-serving justices of all time. This entry reviews his life and his contributions to the Court.

Early Years

Justice Black was born on February 27, 1886, in rural Clay County, Alabama. He entered Birmingham Medical College in 1903 but transferred to the University of Alabama law school a year later. Following graduation from law school in 1906, Black practiced law in Ashland, Alabama, for one year, before moving to Birmingham. He served as a judge on the Birmingham Police Court from 1910 to 1911 and as the prosecuting attorney for Jefferson ...

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