Harold Hanson
Encyclopedia
Harold Joseph Hanson was an eminent South Africa
n advocate
(QC
) and Senior Member of the Johannesburg
Bar Council
. He was born in Johannesburg to Ralph Hanson, a Rand pioneer and Clara Lewis. Harold Hanson first married May Koseff with whom he had a daughter. His second marriage was in 1945 to Anna Marie Berger (known as Anita). They had two daughters and a son. Anita predeceased Harold by 18 years, after which he married Cissie Pincus.
Harold Hanson was educated at Twist Street Government Primary School, Johannesburg and King Edward VII
High School where he passed the Matriculation Exam at the age of fourteen. He studied law at the University of the Witwatersrand
and was called to the Bar in 1926 at the age of 22. He subsequently built up a large practice in Johannesburg dealing with civil
, criminal
and political cases. He was appointed a KC (later known as QC) in 1946.
Harold Hanson was regarded as a very sound lawyer and a brilliant trial advocate. He appeared for the plaintiff
, defendant
or accused in a number of the most important and lengthy cases in South African legal history. These included action for damages for defamation brought by the founder of the Alexander Technique
of psycho-physical education against Drs Jokl, Cleaver and Clark (1946-48); The Parity Insurance Company case (State vs. Heller) in which he defended the accused charged with fraud
(1968–70) and the Gentrico A.G vs. Firestone SA (Pty) Ltd in what has been called the greatest lawsuit in the 500 year history of patents (1).
He believed strongly in civil liberty and was well known for his support of political defendants, often acting on their behalf without a fee (6). He is perhaps best known for his contribution to the last day of the Rivonia Trial
(June 12, 1964) in which he readily accepted a request from his colleague and respected friend Bram Fischer
to argue mitigation for the accused (8). Hanson made a brilliant political appeal in a trial of politically inspired offences which in effect pleaded for the lives of the accused (8, 9). He compared the African struggle for civil rights to the early Voortrekker Afrikaner
struggle and cited precedents for clement sentencing even in treason
cases. Alan Paton
, novelist, national president of the Liberal Party, a devout Christian
and opponent of violence was called as the only witness. Hanson subsequently acted as counsel for Bram Fischer
when he was brought to trial.
E Khan (7) writes:
“Hanson was big in every way: in intellect, in physique, in voice, in courage, in application, in determination. He was fearless, if ebullient and temperamental, in court. Ever eloquent — his colleagues would speak of “Hansonian eloquence” — he could develop an argument for his client on fact or law at the drop of a hat. In cross-examination he was penetrating and robust, and could be fierce; he had indeed a great reputation as a cross examiner. To counsel on the other side, he could prove an awkward opponent; but no one ever questioned his integrity”.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n advocate
Advocate
An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
(QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
) and Senior Member of the Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
Bar Council
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
. He was born in Johannesburg to Ralph Hanson, a Rand pioneer and Clara Lewis. Harold Hanson first married May Koseff with whom he had a daughter. His second marriage was in 1945 to Anna Marie Berger (known as Anita). They had two daughters and a son. Anita predeceased Harold by 18 years, after which he married Cissie Pincus.
Harold Hanson was educated at Twist Street Government Primary School, Johannesburg and King Edward VII
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
High School where he passed the Matriculation Exam at the age of fourteen. He studied law at the University of the Witwatersrand
University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is a South African university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University...
and was called to the Bar in 1926 at the age of 22. He subsequently built up a large practice in Johannesburg dealing with civil
Civil law (common law)
Civil law, as opposed to criminal law, is the branch of law dealing with disputes between individuals or organizations, in which compensation may be awarded to the victim...
, criminal
Criminal law
Criminal law, is the body of law that relates to crime. It might be defined as the body of rules that defines conduct that is not allowed because it is held to threaten, harm or endanger the safety and welfare of people, and that sets out the punishment to be imposed on people who do not obey...
and political cases. He was appointed a KC (later known as QC) in 1946.
Harold Hanson was regarded as a very sound lawyer and a brilliant trial advocate. He appeared for the plaintiff
Plaintiff
A plaintiff , also known as a claimant or complainant, is the term used in some jurisdictions for the party who initiates a lawsuit before a court...
, defendant
Defendant
A defendant or defender is any party who is required to answer the complaint of a plaintiff or pursuer in a civil lawsuit before a court, or any party who has been formally charged or accused of violating a criminal statute...
or accused in a number of the most important and lengthy cases in South African legal history. These included action for damages for defamation brought by the founder of the Alexander Technique
Alexander Technique
The Alexander Technique teaches the ability to improve physical postural habits, particularly those that have become ingrained and conditioned responses...
of psycho-physical education against Drs Jokl, Cleaver and Clark (1946-48); The Parity Insurance Company case (State vs. Heller) in which he defended the accused charged with fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
(1968–70) and the Gentrico A.G vs. Firestone SA (Pty) Ltd in what has been called the greatest lawsuit in the 500 year history of patents (1).
He believed strongly in civil liberty and was well known for his support of political defendants, often acting on their behalf without a fee (6). He is perhaps best known for his contribution to the last day of the Rivonia Trial
Rivonia Trial
The Rivonia Trial was a trial that took place in South Africa between 1963 and 1964, in which ten leaders of the African National Congress were tried for 221 acts of sabotage designed to overthrow the apartheid system.-Origins:...
(June 12, 1964) in which he readily accepted a request from his colleague and respected friend Bram Fischer
Bram Fischer
Abram Louis Fischer, commonly known as Bram Fischer, was a South African lawyer of Afrikaner descent, notable for anti-apartheid activism and for the legal defence of anti-apartheid figures, including Nelson Mandela at the Rivonia Trial.-Tributes:Fischer is widely acknowledged as a key figure in...
to argue mitigation for the accused (8). Hanson made a brilliant political appeal in a trial of politically inspired offences which in effect pleaded for the lives of the accused (8, 9). He compared the African struggle for civil rights to the early Voortrekker Afrikaner
Afrikaner
Afrikaners are an ethnic group in Southern Africa descended from almost equal numbers of Dutch, French and German settlers whose native tongue is Afrikaans: a Germanic language which derives primarily from 17th century Dutch, and a variety of other languages.-Related ethno-linguistic groups:The...
struggle and cited precedents for clement sentencing even in treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
cases. Alan Paton
Alan Paton
Alan Stewart Paton was a South African author and anti-apartheid activist.-Family:Paton was born in Pietermaritzburg, Natal Province , the son of a minor civil servant. After attending Maritzburg College, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Natal in his hometown, followed...
, novelist, national president of the Liberal Party, a devout Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and opponent of violence was called as the only witness. Hanson subsequently acted as counsel for Bram Fischer
Bram Fischer
Abram Louis Fischer, commonly known as Bram Fischer, was a South African lawyer of Afrikaner descent, notable for anti-apartheid activism and for the legal defence of anti-apartheid figures, including Nelson Mandela at the Rivonia Trial.-Tributes:Fischer is widely acknowledged as a key figure in...
when he was brought to trial.
E Khan (7) writes:
“Hanson was big in every way: in intellect, in physique, in voice, in courage, in application, in determination. He was fearless, if ebullient and temperamental, in court. Ever eloquent — his colleagues would speak of “Hansonian eloquence” — he could develop an argument for his client on fact or law at the drop of a hat. In cross-examination he was penetrating and robust, and could be fierce; he had indeed a great reputation as a cross examiner. To counsel on the other side, he could prove an awkward opponent; but no one ever questioned his integrity”.