Tuesday, March 19, 2013

TIH: Mar. 19, 1991

1891
Earl Warren, the 14th chief justice of the United States, was born in Los Angeles.


Although he and his Court may have pushed the boundaries a few times, overall, Warren and the Warren Court did more than any other Court to make consitutional rights a reality.  They also had a understanding how things work in the real world and an appreciation of civil liberties.  For intance, the Warren Court was the first to  seriously ty to  make Equal Protection a reality and not just a theory.  He is one of my heroes of American history.                                                             

5 comments:

  1. As you're aware, I have mixed views about Earl Warren. His well intended idea of democracy having added to a social progressive trend that has, IMHO, destructively undermined our country's Republic. I do agree, however, that some of his decisions we're sorely needed in protecting individual liberties. A concept he failed to follow as California's Governor.

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  2. Correction: "A concept he failed to follow as California's [Attorney General].". This in reference to his role in the confinement of American citizens with Japanese ancestry.

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  3. 44:
    Thanks for the comment and correction. According to Wikipedia "He later said he:

    "since deeply regretted the removal order and my own testimony advocating it, because it was not in keeping with our American concept of freedom and the rights of citizens...Whenever I thought of the innocent little children who were torn from home, school friends, and congenial surroundings, I was conscience-stricken...[i]t was wrong to react so impulsively, without positive evidence of disloyalty
    —quoted in The Memoirs of Earl Warren (1977)[11]

    Of course, later regrets could not remedy the damage. The federal government belatedly provided reparations after many of the internees were already deceased. Another example of the problem that you cannot trust big government to honor constitutional rights when push comes to shove.

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  4. Earl Warren strongly believed in and protected individual rights and equality of all Americans.
    His court, amid much dispute, elaborated a doctrine of fairness in such areas as criminal justice, voting rights, legislative districting, employment, housing, transportation and education. In so doing, I believe he contributed greatly to the reshaping of our country's social and political institutions.

    "I would like the Court to be remembered as the people's court," he remarked on his retirement. He was passionate about those feelings and because of his feelings I have a deep respect for him and the many years of service that he brought to this great country of ours.

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