William Harold Cox
Encyclopedia
William Harold Cox was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Indianola, Mississippi
, Cox received a B.S.
from the University of Mississippi
in 1924 and an LL.B. from the University of Mississippi School of Law
in 1924. He was in private practice in Jackson, Mississippi
from 1924 to 1961.
On June 20, 1961, Cox was nominated by President John F. Kennedy
to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi
created by 75 Stat. 80. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on June 27, 1961, and received his commission on June 30, 1961. He served as chief judge from 1962 to 1971, and assumed senior status
on October 4, 1982. Cox served in that capacity until his death, in 1988.
In February, 1965, Cox threw out the indictments against most Neshoba County conspirators on the ground that all except Rainey and Price were not government officials and therefore could not be charged with acting "under color of law." The U.S. Supreme Court overruled Cox in 1966 and reinstated the indictments.
He died in Jackson, Mississippi
.
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....
.
Born in Indianola, Mississippi
Indianola, Mississippi
Indianola is a city in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 12,066 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Sunflower County.-History:...
, Cox received a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
from the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
in 1924 and an LL.B. from the University of Mississippi School of Law
University of Mississippi School of Law
The University of Mississippi School of Law, also known as Ole Miss Law, is an ABA-accredited law school located on the campus of the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi. The School of Law opened in 1854 and is the fourth-oldest state-supported law school in the country...
in 1924. He was in private practice in Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
from 1924 to 1961.
On June 20, 1961, Cox was nominated by President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi
United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi is a federal court in the Fifth Circuit with facilities in Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Vicksburg, and Jackson....
created by 75 Stat. 80. 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 June 27, 1961, and received his commission on June 30, 1961. He served as chief judge from 1962 to 1971, and assumed 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 October 4, 1982. Cox served in that capacity until his death, in 1988.
In February, 1965, Cox threw out the indictments against most Neshoba County conspirators on the ground that all except Rainey and Price were not government officials and therefore could not be charged with acting "under color of law." The U.S. Supreme Court overruled Cox in 1966 and reinstated the indictments.
He died in Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
.