Joseph Rucker Lamar
Encyclopedia
Joseph Rucker Lamar was an Associate Justice
of the United States Supreme Court appointed by President
William Howard Taft
. A cousin of former associate justice Lucius Lamar
, he served from 1911 until his death in 1916.
, Lamar was the son of a minister and attended the Academy of Richmond County
in Augusta, Georgia and the Martin Institute
in Jefferson, Georgia
. During his time in Augusta, he lived down the street from future president Woodrow Wilson, whose father was the local Presbyterian minister. After Lamar graduated from the Penn Lucy School near Baltimore, Maryland, he attended the University of Georgia
where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Literary Society
before graduating from Bethany College
in 1877, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi
. He then completed law school at Washington and Lee University School of Law
the following year and began practicing law in Augusta, Georgia
.
From 1886 to 1889, he served in the Georgia House of Representatives
, and then was appointed by the Supreme Court of Georgia in 1893 as a commissioner to prepare a code of laws for the state. Two years later, that code was adopted by the state General Assembly
.
On January 1, 1901, Lamar was appointed to fill an unexpired term in the Supreme Court of Georgia, then was re-elected in 1903. He wrote more than 200 opinions before resigning in 1905 to again practice law, defending railroads and many other large corporations.
At the time of his appointment to the Supreme Court, Lamar was only one of three justices ever nominated by a President of the opposite party. That stellar reputation was one reason Lamar, together with Frederick W. Lehmann, was selected in 1914 to represent the United States
at the ABC Powers Conference convened to avert a war over the Veracruz Incident.
In 1915, Lamar wrote two short individual opinions in the famed Leo Frank
case. He declined to grant a petition for habeas corpus
brought by Frank to challenge the fairness of his trial, but subsequently granted a writ of error allowing Frank to bring his claims before the court. The full Court went on to reject Frank's claim in Frank v. Mangum; Lamar voted with the majority but did not write a separate opinion.
That work, coupled with his court duties, may have led to Lamar's failing health during the fall of 1915. Legislation was proposed to allow Lamar to retire with full pay, but his death just months later made the issue a moot point.
Lamar's professional papers, including correspondence concerning his years as a Justice, are archived at the University of Georgia
in Athens, Georgia
, and available for research.
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States are the members of the Supreme Court of the United States other than the Chief Justice of the United States...
of the United States Supreme Court appointed by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
. A cousin of former associate justice Lucius Lamar
Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar (II)
Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar was an American politician and jurist from Mississippi. A United States Representative and Senator, he also served as United States Secretary of the Interior in the first administration of President Grover Cleveland, as well as an Associate Justice of the U.S...
, he served from 1911 until his death in 1916.
Biography
Born in Ruckersville, Elbert County, GeorgiaElbert County, Georgia
Elbert County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was established on December 10, 1790 and was named for Samuel Elbert. As of 2000, the population was 20,511. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 20,525...
, Lamar was the son of a minister and attended the Academy of Richmond County
Academy of Richmond County
The Academy of Richmond County is a public high school listed on the National Register of Historic Places located in Augusta, Georgia, USA. Originally known as Richmond County Military Academy, and commonly known as Richmond Academy, it was chartered in 1783...
in Augusta, Georgia and the Martin Institute
Martin Institute
The Martin Institute was a school in Jefferson, Georgia, from 1818 to 1942.On November 20, 1818, the Georgia General Assembly approved the formation of the co-educational school to be called Jackson County Academy in Jefferson, Georgia....
in Jefferson, Georgia
Jefferson, Georgia
Jefferson is a city in Jackson County, Georgia, United States. The population was 3,825 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Jackson County. Jefferson is known for its superior recreation department...
. During his time in Augusta, he lived down the street from future president Woodrow Wilson, whose father was the local Presbyterian minister. After Lamar graduated from the Penn Lucy School near Baltimore, Maryland, he attended the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Literary Society
Phi Kappa Literary Society
The Phi Kappa Literary Society is a college literary society, located at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.The Society was founded in 1820 by Joseph Henry Lumpkin, later to become the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia and eponym for the , and by William Crabbe, Edwin...
before graduating from Bethany College
Bethany College
Bethany College may refer to a number of Bible schools, Bethany is the name of a Biblical village.* Bethany Bible College, New Brunswick, Canada* Bethany College , United States* Bethany College , Canada...
in 1877, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi , often just called Beta, is a social collegiate fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi. It has over 138 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada...
. He then completed law school at Washington and Lee University School of Law
Washington and Lee University School of Law
The Washington and Lee University School of Law is a private American Bar Association-accredited law school located in Lexington in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia. Facilities are currently on the campus of Washington and Lee University in Sydney Lewis Hall...
the following year and began practicing law in Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
.
From 1886 to 1889, he served in the Georgia House of Representatives
Georgia House of Representatives
The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the Georgia General Assembly of the U.S. state of Georgia.-Composition:...
, and then was appointed by the Supreme Court of Georgia in 1893 as a commissioner to prepare a code of laws for the state. Two years later, that code was adopted by the state General Assembly
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
.
On January 1, 1901, Lamar was appointed to fill an unexpired term in the Supreme Court of Georgia, then was re-elected in 1903. He wrote more than 200 opinions before resigning in 1905 to again practice law, defending railroads and many other large corporations.
At the time of his appointment to the Supreme Court, Lamar was only one of three justices ever nominated by a President of the opposite party. That stellar reputation was one reason Lamar, together with Frederick W. Lehmann, was selected in 1914 to represent the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the ABC Powers Conference convened to avert a war over the Veracruz Incident.
In 1915, Lamar wrote two short individual opinions in the famed Leo Frank
Leo Frank
Leo Max Frank was a Jewish-American factory superintendent whose hanging in 1915 by a lynch mob of prominent citizens in Marietta, Georgia drew attention to antisemitism in the United States....
case. He declined to grant a petition for habeas corpus
Habeas corpus
is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations...
brought by Frank to challenge the fairness of his trial, but subsequently granted a writ of error allowing Frank to bring his claims before the court. The full Court went on to reject Frank's claim in Frank v. Mangum; Lamar voted with the majority but did not write a separate opinion.
That work, coupled with his court duties, may have led to Lamar's failing health during the fall of 1915. Legislation was proposed to allow Lamar to retire with full pay, but his death just months later made the issue a moot point.
Lamar's professional papers, including correspondence concerning his years as a Justice, are archived at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
, and available for research.