Clement Haynsworth
Encyclopedia
Clement Furman Haynsworth, Jr. (October 30, 1912 – November 22, 1989) was a United States
judge and an unsuccessful nominee for the United States Supreme Court.
Haynsworth was born in Greenville, South Carolina
. He received an A.B.
from Furman University
in 1933 and an LL.B. from Harvard Law School
in 1936. He was in private practice of law in Greenville from 1936 to 1957, aside from his years of service in the United States Navy
from 1942 to 1945 during World War II
.
Haynsworth was a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
, being nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
on February 19, 1957, to a seat vacated by Armistead Mason Dobie
. Haynsworth was confirmed by the United States Senate
on April 4, 1957, and received his commission the same day. He became chief judge in 1964.
Haynsworth was nominated to be an Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court on August 21, 1969 by President Richard Nixon
to replace liberal
justice Abe Fortas
, who had resigned due to conflict of interest charges. Haynsworth was opposed by Democrats (possibly in retaliation for the Republicans' rejection of Fortas as Chief Justice), liberal Republicans, and the NAACP. He was alleged to have made court decisions favoring segregation
and of being reflexively anti-labor. Senator Philip Hart
said that Haynsworth's decisions on civil rights and labor management were "unacceptable," while Senator Marlow Cook
argued that Haynsworth was being “subjected to a character assassination that is unjustified." Cook argued that Haynsworth was "a man of honesty and a man of integrity.”
Haynsworth was also accused of ruling in cases where he had a financial interest, although this was never proven. Haynsworth was later termed a "moderate" who was "close in outlook to John Paul Stevens
."
Haynsworth's nomination was defeated by a vote of 55 to 45 on November 21, 1969. 19 Democrats and 26 Republicans voted for Haynsworth while 38 Democrats and 17 Republicans voted against the nomination. Haynsworth was the first Supreme Court nominee to be defeated by the Senate since the rejection of Judge John J. Parker
(also of the Fourth Circuit) in 1930.
After his defeat, Haynsworth remained on the Fourth Circuit in Greenville, South Carolina
. He assumed senior status
on April 6, 1981, which he retained until his death in Greenville on November 22, 1989. The C.F. Haynsworth Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Greenville was renamed in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
judge and an unsuccessful nominee for the United States Supreme Court.
Haynsworth was born in Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
. He received an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Furman University
Furman University
Furman University is a selective, private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. Furman is one of the oldest, and more selective private institutions in South Carolina...
in 1933 and an LL.B. from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1936. He was in private practice of law in Greenville from 1936 to 1957, aside from his years of service in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
from 1942 to 1945 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Haynsworth was a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is a federal court located in Richmond, Virginia, with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:*District of Maryland*Eastern District of North Carolina...
, being nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
on February 19, 1957, to a seat vacated by Armistead Mason Dobie
Armistead Mason Dobie
Armistead Mason Dobie was a law professor and United States federal judge.-University leader:A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Dobie received a B.A. from the University of Virginia in 1901, an M.A. from the same institution in 1902, and an LL.B. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1904....
. Haynsworth was confirmed by the United States 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 April 4, 1957, and received his commission the same day. He became chief judge in 1964.
Haynsworth was nominated to be an Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court on August 21, 1969 by President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
to replace liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
justice Abe Fortas
Abe Fortas
Abraham Fortas was a U.S. Supreme Court associate justice from 1965 to 1969. Originally from Tennessee, Fortas became a law professor at Yale, and subsequently advised the Securities and Exchange Commission. He then worked at the Interior Department under Franklin D...
, who had resigned due to conflict of interest charges. Haynsworth was opposed by Democrats (possibly in retaliation for the Republicans' rejection of Fortas as Chief Justice), liberal Republicans, and the NAACP. He was alleged to have made court decisions favoring 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...
and of being reflexively anti-labor. Senator Philip Hart
Philip Hart
Philip Aloysius Hart was a Democratic United States Senator from Michigan from 1959 until 1976. He was nicknamed the Conscience of the Senate.-Early years:...
said that Haynsworth's decisions on civil rights and labor management were "unacceptable," while Senator Marlow Cook
Marlow Cook
Marlow Webster Cook is a former Republican United States Senator from Kentucky.-Early life:Cook moved to Louisville when he was 17. He joined the United States Navy and served on submarines in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans during World War II...
argued that Haynsworth was being “subjected to a character assassination that is unjustified." Cook argued that Haynsworth was "a man of honesty and a man of integrity.”
Haynsworth was also accused of ruling in cases where he had a financial interest, although this was never proven. Haynsworth was later termed a "moderate" who was "close in outlook to John Paul Stevens
John Paul Stevens
John Paul Stevens served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from December 19, 1975 until his retirement on June 29, 2010. At the time of his retirement, he was the oldest member of the Court and the third-longest serving justice in the Court's history...
."
Haynsworth's nomination was defeated by a vote of 55 to 45 on November 21, 1969. 19 Democrats and 26 Republicans voted for Haynsworth while 38 Democrats and 17 Republicans voted against the nomination. Haynsworth was the first Supreme Court nominee to be defeated by the Senate since the rejection of Judge John J. Parker
John J. Parker
John Johnston Parker was a U.S. judge who failed confirmation to the Supreme Court by one vote. He was also the U.S. alternate judge at the Nuremberg Trials of Nazi war criminals and later served on the United Nations' International Law Commission.John J. Parker was born in Monroe, North Carolina,...
(also of the Fourth Circuit) in 1930.
After his defeat, Haynsworth remained on the Fourth Circuit in Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
. He 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 April 6, 1981, which he retained until his death in Greenville on November 22, 1989. The C.F. Haynsworth Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Greenville was renamed in his honor.