J. Frank Huskins
Encyclopedia
J. Frank Huskins was an associate justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court
from 1968 through 1982.
Huskins was born in the Toledo community near Burnsville
, Yancey County
, North Carolina
to Joseph Irwin Huskins and Mary Etta Peterson Huskins. Huskins attended Mars Hill Junior College
from 1927 to 1929. He then earned an A.B. degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
in 1930 and a degree from its law school in 1932.
He returned to Burnsville, where he was elected mayor in 1939, a position in which he served until he joined the U.S. Navy for World War II
. He served from 1942 to 1946 and was honorably discharged as a Lieutenant Commander
. Returning to Burnsville again, Huskins was elected in 1947 to the North Carolina House of Representatives
as a Democrat
. Governor Kerr Scott appointed him Chairman of the state Industrial Commission, where he served from 1949 until 1955.
He was appointed by Governor Luther Hodges to the North Carolina Superior Court
bench in 1955 for the Western Division, which included his home county of Yancey. He served as a Superior Court Judge for ten years. In 1965, he was called upon by Chief Justice Emery Denny to hold a newly-created post as Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts. He held this position until 5 February 1968, when Governor Dan K. Moore
appointed him to the North Carolina Supreme Court as an Associate Justice. He was re-elected in 1968 and 1976. On 1 February 1982, he retired from the Court, and Burley Mitchell
was appointed to his seat. Judge Huskins entered private practice in Raleigh and argued several cases before the Supreme Court.
North Carolina Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state's highest appellate court. Until the creation of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the 1960s, it was the state's only appellate court. The Supreme Court consists of six associate justices and one chief justice, although the number of justices...
from 1968 through 1982.
Huskins was born in the Toledo community near Burnsville
Burnsville, North Carolina
Burnsville is a town in Yancey County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,623 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Yancey County.-Geography:Burnsville is located at ....
, Yancey County
Yancey County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 17,774 people, 7,472 households, and 5,372 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile . There were 9,729 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
to Joseph Irwin Huskins and Mary Etta Peterson Huskins. Huskins attended Mars Hill Junior College
Mars Hill College
Mars Hill College is a private, coed, liberal-arts college affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. The college is located in the small town of Mars Hill, North Carolina, due north of Asheville, western North Carolina's largest city...
from 1927 to 1929. He then earned an A.B. degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
in 1930 and a degree from its law school in 1932.
He returned to Burnsville, where he was elected mayor in 1939, a position in which he served until he joined the U.S. Navy for 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...
. He served from 1942 to 1946 and was honorably discharged as a Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
. Returning to Burnsville again, Huskins was elected in 1947 to the North Carolina House of Representatives
North Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
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...
. Governor Kerr Scott appointed him Chairman of the state Industrial Commission, where he served from 1949 until 1955.
He was appointed by Governor Luther Hodges to the North Carolina Superior Court
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
bench in 1955 for the Western Division, which included his home county of Yancey. He served as a Superior Court Judge for ten years. In 1965, he was called upon by Chief Justice Emery Denny to hold a newly-created post as Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts. He held this position until 5 February 1968, when Governor Dan K. Moore
Dan K. Moore
Daniel Killian Moore was the 66th Governor of the state of North Carolina from 1965 to 1969. Born in Asheville, North Carolina, Moore earned undergraduate and law degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was a member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity...
appointed him to the North Carolina Supreme Court as an Associate Justice. He was re-elected in 1968 and 1976. On 1 February 1982, he retired from the Court, and Burley Mitchell
Burley Mitchell
Burley Mitchell, Jr. is an American jurist and former Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. At age 15, Mitchell dropped out of high school to join the United States Marine Corps, only to be kicked out when his age was discovered...
was appointed to his seat. Judge Huskins entered private practice in Raleigh and argued several cases before the Supreme Court.