Wesley W. Horton
Encyclopedia
Wesley W. Horton is a Connecticut appellate lawyer and partner of Horton, Shields & Knox, P.C. He most recently represented the City of New London in Kelo v. New London before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Horton received his B.A. from Harvard College
in 1964 and his J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law
in 1970. Before entering private practice, he served as a law clerk for Chief Justice House of the Connecticut Supreme Court
from 1970 to 1971. Horton was involved in the landmark school finance case Horton v. Meskill
(both in legal representation and as father to the plaintiff). Within Connecticut, and prior to Kelo, Horton was known for his groundbreaking win in Sheff v. O'Neill
. In Sheff, Horton successfully persuaded the Connecticut Supreme Court that education was a fundamental right under the Connecticut Constitution
, and that de facto segregation in schools violated this right. To this date, he has continued to represent the Sheff plaintiffs seeking to enforce the judgment requiring equal financing and racial balance among the Hartford Public Schools and the surrounding suburbs.
Horton recently authored a scholarly book chronicling the history of the Connecticut Supreme Court.
Horton received his B.A. from Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in 1964 and his J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law
University of Connecticut School of Law
The University of Connecticut School of Law is the only public law school in Connecticut and one of only four in New England. The school was recently ranked forty-sixth out of the 190 American Bar Association-accredited law schools in the United States and is considered a Tier 1 school by U.S...
in 1970. Before entering private practice, he served as a law clerk for Chief Justice House of the Connecticut Supreme Court
Connecticut Supreme Court
The Connecticut Supreme Court, formerly known as the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors, is the highest court in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It consists of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices. The seven justices sit in Hartford, across the street from the Connecticut State Capitol...
from 1970 to 1971. Horton was involved in the landmark school finance case Horton v. Meskill
Horton v. Meskill
The Connecticut Supreme Court issued its ruling in Horton v. Meskill on April 19, 1977 . It held that the right to education in Connecticut is so basic and fundamental that any intrusion on the right must be strictly scrutinized...
(both in legal representation and as father to the plaintiff). Within Connecticut, and prior to Kelo, Horton was known for his groundbreaking win in Sheff v. O'Neill
Sheff v. O'Neill
Sheff v. O'Neill refers to a 1989 lawsuit and the subsequent 1996 Connecticut Supreme Court case that resulted in a landmark decision regarding civil rights and the right to education.-Timeline:...
. In Sheff, Horton successfully persuaded the Connecticut Supreme Court that education was a fundamental right under the Connecticut Constitution
Connecticut Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Connecticut is the basic governing document of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was approved by referendum on December 14, 1965, and proclaimed by the governor as adopted on December 30. It is the second constitution that the state has had...
, and that de facto segregation in schools violated this right. To this date, he has continued to represent the Sheff plaintiffs seeking to enforce the judgment requiring equal financing and racial balance among the Hartford Public Schools and the surrounding suburbs.
Horton recently authored a scholarly book chronicling the history of the Connecticut Supreme Court.