Charles Weltner
Encyclopedia
Charles Weltner was a politician
from the U.S. state
of Georgia
.
Weltner was born in Atlanta, Georgia
. He received a bachelor's degree from Oglethorpe University
in 1948. Then, in 1950, he received a law degree from Columbia Law School
. After serving 2 years in the United States Army
, Weltner practiced law in Atlanta and served as an advocate for racial equality.
In 1962, Weltner was elected to represent Georgia's 5th congressional district
in the House of Representatives
as a Democrat
. Once in office, he continued to be a strong advocate for racial equality, supporting the United States Supreme Court decision to outlaw racial segregation
in Brown v. Board of Education
and voting for the Civil Rights Act of 1964
. In 1966, Weltner refused to run for reelection when the state Democratic Party tried to make him sign a loyalty oath that would have required him to support Lester Maddox
, an ardent segregationist who was running for governor. In a speech, he stated "I love the Congress, but I will give up my office before I give up my principles." He tried to regain his seat in 1968, but lost to his Republican successor, Fletcher Thompson
. In 1973, Weltner ran for Mayor of Atlanta, but finished third behind incumbent Mayor Sam Massell and the eventual winner, Vice Mayor Maynard Jackson.
After leaving politics, Weltner continued his legal career, first serving as a judge in the Fulton County
Superior Court from 1976 to 1981 and then serving as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia from 1981 to 1992. In June 1992, he was elected as the Chief Justice of that body by his fellow justices, and he served in that role until his death in Atlanta on August 31, 1992.
In 1991, Weltner became the second individual to be honored with the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Weltner was born in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. He received a bachelor's degree from Oglethorpe University
Oglethorpe University
Oglethorpe University is a private liberal arts college in Brookhaven, Georgia, an inner suburb of Atlanta. It was chartered in 1835 and named after James Edward Oglethorpe, the state's founder.-History:...
in 1948. Then, in 1950, he received a law degree from Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
. After serving 2 years in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, Weltner practiced law in Atlanta and served as an advocate for racial equality.
In 1962, Weltner was elected to represent Georgia's 5th congressional district
Georgia's 5th congressional district
Georgia's 5th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Georgia. Based in central Fulton and parts of Dekalb and Clayton counties, the heavily African American district includes the state capital and largest city of Atlanta as well as many of the surrounding suburbs...
in the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. Once in office, he continued to be a strong advocate for racial equality, supporting the United States Supreme Court decision to outlaw racial segregation
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
in Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 , was a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. The decision overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896 which...
and voting for the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation in the United States that outlawed major forms of discrimination against African Americans and women, including racial segregation...
. In 1966, Weltner refused to run for reelection when the state Democratic Party tried to make him sign a loyalty oath that would have required him to support Lester Maddox
Lester Maddox
Lester Garfield Maddox was an American politician who was the 75th Governor of the U.S. state of Georgia from 1967 to 1971....
, an ardent segregationist who was running for governor. In a speech, he stated "I love the Congress, but I will give up my office before I give up my principles." He tried to regain his seat in 1968, but lost to his Republican successor, Fletcher Thompson
Fletcher Thompson
Standish Fletcher Thompson is an American lawyer and politician who served as a representative in Congress for the 5th Congressional District of Georgia.-Early life:...
. In 1973, Weltner ran for Mayor of Atlanta, but finished third behind incumbent Mayor Sam Massell and the eventual winner, Vice Mayor Maynard Jackson.
After leaving politics, Weltner continued his legal career, first serving as a judge in the Fulton County
Fulton County, Georgia
Fulton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Its county seat is Atlanta, the state capital since 1868 and the principal county of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
Superior Court from 1976 to 1981 and then serving as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia from 1981 to 1992. In June 1992, he was elected as the Chief Justice of that body by his fellow justices, and he served in that role until his death in Atlanta on August 31, 1992.
In 1991, Weltner became the second individual to be honored with the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award
Profile in Courage Award
The Profile in Courage Award is a private award given to recognize displays of courage similar to those John F. Kennedy described in his book Profiles in Courage...
.