C. Clyde Atkins
Encyclopedia
Carl Clyde Atkins was an American lawyer
and judge
.
, Atkins graduated from the University of Florida
where he was a member of Phi Kappa Tau
. He received an LL.B. from the University of Florida College of Law in 1936. He was in private practice of law in Stuart, Florida
from 1936 to 1941, then in Miami, Florida
until 1966.
Lyndon B. Johnson
nominated Atkins to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
on June 28, 1966, to a new seat created by 80 Stat. 75. Confirmed
by the Senate
on July 22, 1966, he received commission
the same day. He served as chief judge
, 1977–1982 and assumed senior status
on December 31, 1982. He served as senior judge until his death.
In 1969, Atkins worked on ensuring the desegregation of Miami schools by appointing a special panel to ensure the plan was carried out. In 1970, he ruled on a famous case involving the poet Alan Ginsberg after someone shut off Ginsberg's microphone during a public reading. Atkins ruled that Ginsberg should be given another reading, free of charge.
Among the many important cases in a long and distinguished career, he issued landmark rulings protecting the constitutional rights of homeless people in Pottinger v. City of Miami, as well as major rulings in other cases involving the rights of Haitian and Cuban refugees.
. In December 1961, at a meeting of the Biscayne College Board of Trustees held in his office at the Alfred I. duPont Building in Miami, Atkins was appointed resident agent of the College. In 1965, he was named a Knight of St. Gregory by Pope Paul VI
.
In 1997, the C. Clyde Atkins Moot Court Series was endowed at the University of Miami School of Law
in his honor.
He died of colon cancer in Miami on March 11, 1999. He was survived by his wife, Ester and daughter Julie A. Landrigan. Two children, Carla A. Schulte and Carl Clyde Atkins were previously deceased.
The Greater Miami Chapter of the Florida ACLU annually presents the C. Clyde Atkins Civil Liberties Award. St. Thomas University
(formerly Biscayne College) houses "The Judge C. Clyde Atkins Papers". Portions of the collection, including his public speeches, are available digitally at http://library.stu.edu/atkins.
Law of the United States
The law of the United States consists of many levels of codified and uncodified forms of law, of which the most important is the United States Constitution, the foundation of the federal government of the United States...
and judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
.
Early life
Born in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Atkins graduated from the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
where he was a member of Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau is a U.S. national collegiate fraternity.-History:Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity was founded in the Union Literary Society Hall of Miami University's Old Main Building in Oxford, Ohio on March 17, 1906...
. He received an LL.B. from the University of Florida College of Law in 1936. He was in private practice of law in Stuart, Florida
Stuart, Florida
Stuart is the only incorporated city of Martin County, Florida, on Florida's Treasure Coast. The population was 14,633 at the 2000 census. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 15,964....
from 1936 to 1941, then in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
until 1966.
Federal judicial service
PresidentPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
nominated Atkins to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida is the federal United States district court with jurisdiction over the southern part of the state of Florida....
on June 28, 1966, to a new seat created by 80 Stat. 75. Confirmed
Advice and consent
Advice and consent is an English phrase frequently used in enacting formulae of bills and in other legal or constitutional contexts, describing a situation in which the executive branch of a government enacts something previously approved of by the legislative branch.-General:The expression is...
by the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on July 22, 1966, he received commission
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
the same day. He served as chief judge
Chief judge
Chief Judge is a title that can refer to the highest-ranking judge of a court that has more than one judge. The meaning and usage of the term vary from one court system to another...
, 1977–1982 and assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on December 31, 1982. He served as senior judge until his death.
In 1969, Atkins worked on ensuring the desegregation of Miami schools by appointing a special panel to ensure the plan was carried out. In 1970, he ruled on a famous case involving the poet Alan Ginsberg after someone shut off Ginsberg's microphone during a public reading. Atkins ruled that Ginsberg should be given another reading, free of charge.
Among the many important cases in a long and distinguished career, he issued landmark rulings protecting the constitutional rights of homeless people in Pottinger v. City of Miami, as well as major rulings in other cases involving the rights of Haitian and Cuban refugees.
Personal activities
He was an active leader of the Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. In December 1961, at a meeting of the Biscayne College Board of Trustees held in his office at the Alfred I. duPont Building in Miami, Atkins was appointed resident agent of the College. In 1965, he was named a Knight of St. Gregory by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
.
In 1997, the C. Clyde Atkins Moot Court Series was endowed at the University of Miami School of Law
University of Miami School of Law
The University of Miami School of Law, founded in 1926, is the law school of the University of Miami, located in Coral Gables, Florida, in the United States. The school graduated its first class of 13 students in 1929.- Academics :...
in his honor.
He died of colon cancer in Miami on March 11, 1999. He was survived by his wife, Ester and daughter Julie A. Landrigan. Two children, Carla A. Schulte and Carl Clyde Atkins were previously deceased.
The Greater Miami Chapter of the Florida ACLU annually presents the C. Clyde Atkins Civil Liberties Award. St. Thomas University
St. Thomas University (Florida)
St. Thomas University is a private Roman Catholic university in the Miami, Florida, United States suburb of Miami Gardens.-History:The University traces its roots to the Universidad Católica de Santo Tomás de Villanueva, founded in 1946 in Havana, Cuba, named after Saint Thomas of Villanova, by...
(formerly Biscayne College) houses "The Judge C. Clyde Atkins Papers". Portions of the collection, including his public speeches, are available digitally at http://library.stu.edu/atkins.