William Douglas

Introduction

William Orville Douglas was born on October 16, 1898, in Maine, Minnesota, but his family relocated to the West Coast while he was still a young child. After his father died in 1904, the family settled in Yakima, Washington. Douglas performed excellent academically and graduated from high school as valedictorian, earning a scholarship to attend Whitman College. After completing his undergraduate studies, he taught for a while before deciding to pursue a legal education at Columbia University Law School, where he eventually graduated in 1925.

Shortly after entering the legal profession, Douglas realized that practicing law was different from his passion. As a result, he began his career in academia, starting as a faculty member at Columbia and later transferring to Yale Law School. At Yale, Douglas specialized in teaching commercial law, giving students invaluable insight into this complex field.

In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt recognized Douglas's expertise and appointed him to serve on the newly established Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Douglas's legal skills and dedication were evident, and he was later appointed Chairman of the SEC in 1937. This prestigious role allows them to play a key role in shaping and enforcing securities-related regulations while maintaining the integrity of the financial markets.

Throughout his life, Douglas demonstrated a remarkable commitment to law, education, and public service. His journey from a small town in Minnesota to becoming a prominent figure in the legal and financial world attests to his steady determination and intellectual skills. Douglas's contributions to the legal profession and securities regulation have left an indelible mark on American society, cementing his legacy as a respected professional and influential figure.

Throughout his life, Douglas demonstrated a remarkable commitment to law, education, and public service. His journey from a small town in Minnesota to becoming a prominent figure in the legal and financial world attests to his steady determination and intellectual skills. Douglas's contributions to the legal profession and securities regulation have left an indelible mark on American society, cementing his legacy as a respected professional and influential figure.

Douglas Aspired to the Presidency

On March 20, 1939, President Roosevelt nominated Douglas to the Supreme Court as an associate justice, a position left vacant after the retirement of Justice Louis D. Brandeis. The Senate confirmed his appointment by a majority of 62-4, and on April 17, 1939, at the age of 40, Douglas was sworn in as one of the youngest justices in the Court's history.

Despite serving as a judge for an impressive thirty-six years, Douglas openly admitted that he was unhappy in his role. It was clear that his true aspiration lay in the highest office of the country - the presidency. This longing led him to seek the Democratic nomination for Vice-President in 1944. However, to his bitter disappointment, the nomination went to Senator Harry S. Truman. Douglas's disappointment increased when Truman assumed the presidency after Roosevelt's untimely death in 1945.

Douglas made one last attempt to fulfill his presidential dream in 1948, but it also failed. With this defeat, Douglas's hopes for the presidency finally ended, marking the end of his political ambitions.

Although Douglas's time on the Supreme Court was prestigious and influential, his desire for the highest office in the nation remained constant throughout his career. Despite never achieving his dream, Douglas's legacy as a justice remains important, and his pursuit of the presidency serves as a reminder of his unwavering ambition.

Douglas Was a Controversial Justice

Douglas's long tenure as a member of the Court proved highly controversial. Known as a maverick both personally and professionally, he acquired the nickname "Wild Bill." As a judge, Douglas became an exceptionally prominent figure, attracting criticism because of his passionate advocacy for liberal issues, especially civil liberties. With a sincere dedication to the environmental movement, he campaigned extensively for its advancement.

Douglas became involved in controversy when he intervened in 1953 to stop the impending execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were accused of providing nuclear and military secrets to the Soviet Union. Subsequently, he faced further criticism for upholding a lower court order that sought to restrict funding for the Vietnam War. In both instances, he authorized his decision and immediately departed Washington, leaving his fellow justices no choice but to dismiss him in absentia. The House of Representatives launched three short-lived impeachment efforts against him.

Douglas's private life was equally fraught with controversy. Having been married four times, his successive partners were significantly younger than himself, and he divorced three of his wives. While it was not unheard of for a justice to engage in discreet affairs, Douglas's philandering tendencies were widely known.

Douglas Was a Passionate Supporter of Free Speech

Douglas was a dedicated supporter of civil liberties during his tenure as judge. He strongly believed that the Constitution is based on inherent and permanent natural rights that place limits on government. Although he did not fully develop this doctrine, his writings regarding the Court's decisions in Skinner vs. Oklahoma (1942) and Griswold vs Connecticut (1965) clearly demonstrated his establishment of fundamental rights—such as Rights to marriage, reproduction, and privacy.

Douglas staunchly supported freedom of speech rights. Although he did not completely embrace the absolutist doctrine advocated by Justice Hugo L. Black, he consistently argued that thought and speech should only be restricted when accompanied by harmful actions. In the case of Terminiello vs Chicago (1949), Douglas authored the majority opinion that overturned the conviction of an anti-Semitic priest for disorderly conduct due to his provocative speech, which nearly incited a riot. Similarly, in his dissent in Roth vs the United States (1957), Douglas rejected the notion that obscenity should be considered unprotected speech. In his dissent in Dennis vs United States (1951), he argued that mere affiliation with a group like the Communist Party does not present a clear and imminent danger that justifies suppressing speech and limiting association.

He emphasized the important role of free speech in the United States, saying, "Free speech has always held a respected place because of its enormous contribution to our society. Protecting it is essential to the survival of democracy. It Kept safe." The rights of every religious, political, philosophical, economic, and racial group within our country. Free speech has been the guiding principle that has made our institutions the embodiment of liberty and equality."

Limit on Speech or Press

Similarly, Douglas sided with the majority in the ground-breaking cases Brandenburg vs Ohio (1969) and New York Times Co. vs United States (1971). He firmly believed that a compelling and immediate government interest must support any restrictions on freedom of speech or of the press. As the author of the majority opinion in the landmark case Murdock vs Pennsylvania (1943), Douglas struck down a local license tax imposed on door-to-door solicitation. They considered it unfair because it specifically targeted Jehovah's Witnesses and effectively taxed religious speech. Additionally, Douglas agreed with Engel vs Vitale (1962), an important school prayer case. This revealed his widespread caution towards using tax funds for religious purposes.

However, in the Zorak vs. Clawson (1952) decision, Douglas acknowledged that "We are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being." He expressed support for the idea of allowing public school children "free time" to participate in religious education off campus. Douglas argued that this accommodation of religious beliefs preserves our cherished traditions and demonstrates respect for the religious inclinations of our population.

Douglas Became "The Great Dissenter."

Douglas's defense of civil liberties made him a stalwart of the Warren Court, but his views clashed sharply with those of the subsequent Burger Court. As the Court leaned toward conservatism, Douglas distinguished himself as a vehement dissenter and earned the nickname "The Great Dissenter." Critics from both liberal and conservative backgrounds have accused Douglas of failing to realize his potential as a legal scholar fully. He argues that his support for natural law theory remained underdeveloped, and his tendency to rush to write opinions and unwillingness to revise them led to diminished legal scholarship and diminished influence.

On December 31, 1974, Douglas suffered a stroke, yet he continued to perform his Court duties until November 12, 1975. He continued to discharge his duties until his disability became too obvious, causing the other judges to agree to adjudicate any cases collectively.

Death

Douglas, a renowned figure in the legal world, died on January 19, 1980, at the age of 81. After making significant contributions to the Supreme Court for many years, he retired in 1972. He died at Walter Reed Hospital. Bethesda, MD, where he received the best medical care. His fourth wife, Kathleen Douglas, and his two children, Mildred and William Jr., mourned his death along with his first wife.

In honor of his influential contributions, Douglass was buried in Section 5 of Arlington National Cemetery. Interestingly, his final resting place is the same as that of eight other former Supreme Court judges, where they all rest together in eternal peace.