John Robert Brown (judge)
Encyclopedia
John Robert Brown was a United States federal judge
of the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
in 1950s and 1960s, one of the "Fifth Circuit Four
" pivotal in the civil rights movement
.
Brown was born 1909 in Funk, Nebraska
. He received an A.B.
from the University of Nebraska in 1930, and a J.D.
from the University of Michigan Law School
in 1932. He was in private practice as an admiralty
lawyer with the firm Royston Rayzor in Houston
and Galveston, Texas
from 1932 to 1955, except for a four-year stint as a United States Army
Major during World War II
, from 1942 to 1946.
Brown was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
on April 25, 1955, to a seat vacated by Robert Lee Russell
. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on July 22, 1955, and received his commission on July 27, 1955. Brown became known as one of the "Fifth Circuit Four"--Brown, Elbert Tuttle
, Richard Rives
, and John Minor Wisdom
--so called because of a series of decisions crucial in advancing the civil rights of African-Americans. At that time, the Fifth Circuit included not only Louisiana
, Mississippi
, and Texas (its jurisdiction ), but also Alabama
, Georgia
, Florida
, and the Panama Canal Zone
.
Brown served as chief judge from 1967 to 1979. He was crucial to the administrative actions splitting the new Eleventh Circuit (Alabama, Georgia and Florida) from the Old Fifth Circuit which included those states up to September 1981, leaving the current Fifth Circuit with Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. He went on senior status
on July 20, 1984, but never completely retired until his death in 1993 in Houston, Texas
.
The Judge John R. Brown Admiralty Moot Court Competition was established shortly before Judge Brown's death and is now held annually, sponsored by the University of Texas at Austin
Law School.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
of the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Louisiana* Middle District of Louisiana...
in 1950s and 1960s, one of the "Fifth Circuit Four
Fifth Circuit Four
The "Fifth Circuit Four" were four judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit who, during the late 1950s, became known for a series of decisions crucial in advancing the civil rights of African Americans; in this they were opposed by fellow fifth-circuit judge Ben Cameron,...
" pivotal in the civil rights movement
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
.
Brown was born 1909 in Funk, Nebraska
Funk, Nebraska
Funk is a village in Phelps County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 204 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Funk is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land....
. 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 the University of Nebraska in 1930, and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
in 1932. He was in private practice as an admiralty
Admiralty law
Admiralty law is a distinct body of law which governs maritime questions and offenses. It is a body of both domestic law governing maritime activities, and private international law governing the relationships between private entities which operate vessels on the oceans...
lawyer with the firm Royston Rayzor in Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
and Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
from 1932 to 1955, except for a four-year stint as a 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...
Major 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...
, from 1942 to 1946.
Brown was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Louisiana* Middle District of Louisiana...
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 April 25, 1955, to a seat vacated by Robert Lee Russell
Robert Lee Russell
Robert E. Lee Russell was a United States federal judge. His father, Richard Russell, Sr., was the Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, and his brother, Richard Russell, Jr., served as Governor of Georgia and a United States Senator. He was named in honor of Confederate Army General,...
. He 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 July 22, 1955, and received his commission on July 27, 1955. Brown became known as one of the "Fifth Circuit Four"--Brown, Elbert Tuttle
Elbert Tuttle
Elbert Parr Tuttle , one of the "Fifth Circuit Four", and a liberal Republican from Georgia, was chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit from 1960 to 1967, when that court became known for a series of decisions crucial in advancing the civil rights of African-Americans...
, Richard Rives
Richard Rives
Richard Taylor Rives was an American lawyer and judge. A native of Alabama, he was the sole Democrat among the "Fifth Circuit Four," four judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in the 1950s and 1960s that issued a series of decisions crucial in advancing the civil...
, and John Minor Wisdom
John Minor Wisdom
John Minor Wisdom , one of the "Fifth Circuit Four", and a liberal Republican from Louisiana, was a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit during the 1950s and 1960s, when that court became known for a series of decisions crucial in advancing the civil rights of...
--so called because of a series of decisions crucial in advancing the civil rights of African-Americans. At that time, the Fifth Circuit included not only Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, and Texas (its jurisdiction ), but also Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, 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...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, and the Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
.
Brown served as chief judge from 1967 to 1979. He was crucial to the administrative actions splitting the new Eleventh Circuit (Alabama, Georgia and Florida) from the Old Fifth Circuit which included those states up to September 1981, leaving the current Fifth Circuit with Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. He went on 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 July 20, 1984, but never completely retired until his death in 1993 in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
.
The Judge John R. Brown Admiralty Moot Court Competition was established shortly before Judge Brown's death and is now held annually, sponsored by the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
Law School.