Harry A. Blackmun
Harry A. Blackmun
Full Name and Common Aliases
Harry Andrew Blackmun was born on October 12, 1908, in Nashville, Illinois, to Alfred and Clara (nee Anderson) Blackmun.
Birth and Death Dates
Born: October 12, 1908
Died: March 4, 1999 at the age of 90
Nationality and Profession(s)
Blackmun was an American jurist who served as a judge on the United States Supreme Court from 1970 to 1994.
Early Life and Background
Harry Blackmun was born in Nashville, Illinois, to Alfred and Clara (nee Anderson) Blackmun. His family moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, when he was six years old. Blackmun's father died of tuberculosis when Harry was just nine years old, leaving his mother to raise him and his younger sister alone.
Blackmun attended St. Paul Academy and later went on to study at Harvard University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1929 and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the Harvard Law School in 1932. He then practiced law in St. Paul for several years before serving as a law clerk to Judge Harlan F. Stone of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Major Accomplishments
During his tenure on the Supreme Court, Blackmun was known for his liberal stances on issues such as abortion rights and affirmative action. One of his most notable opinions was in the landmark case Roe v. Wade (1973), where he wrote that a woman's right to choose an abortion is protected by the Constitution.
In addition to his work on Roe v. Wade, Blackmun also played a crucial role in other significant cases, including:
Brown v. Board of Education II (1955): A companion case to the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, which outlawed segregation in public schools.
Loving v. Virginia (1967): A case that struck down laws prohibiting interracial marriage.
Notable Works or Actions
Blackmun was a prolific writer and commentator on issues related to law and justice. He published several articles and books on topics such as the judiciary, civil liberties, and social welfare policy.
In addition to his written works, Blackmun was also known for his public speaking engagements and lectures on various aspects of law and justice.
Impact and Legacy
Harry Blackmun's impact on American jurisprudence is still felt today. His opinions in cases like Roe v. Wade have had a lasting effect on the nation's understanding of reproductive rights and individual liberties.
Blackmun's commitment to social justice and his willingness to challenge conventional wisdom on issues such as affirmative action and racial integration have made him a respected figure among scholars, activists, and politicians.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Harry Blackmun is widely quoted and remembered for his significant contributions to American jurisprudence. His opinions in landmark cases like Roe v. Wade have had a lasting impact on the nation's understanding of reproductive rights and individual liberties.
Blackmun's commitment to social justice, combined with his willingness to challenge conventional wisdom on issues such as affirmative action and racial integration, has made him a respected figure among scholars, activists, and politicians.
His legacy serves as a reminder that judges can play a crucial role in shaping the course of American history and that even the most seemingly intractable issues can be addressed through careful consideration and thoughtful deliberation.
Quotes by Harry A. Blackmun
The right of an individual to conduct intimate relationships in the intimacy of his or her own home seems to me to be the heart of the Constitution's protection of privacy.
A government cannot be premised on the belief that all persons are created equal when it asserts that god prefers some.
If there is any truth to the old proverb that “one who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client,” the Court now bestows a constitutional right on one to make a fool of himself.
I cannot see any of these death penalty cases where there hasn’t been a violation on the ground of either poverty or race. If we can ever get that straightened out, it will help. But, of course, the real answer to it is to do away with the death penalty.
The mixing of government and religion can be a threat to free government, even if no one is forced to participate.... When the government puts its imprimatur on a particular religion, it conveys a message of exclusion to all those who do not adhere to the favored beliefs. A government cannot be premised on the belief that all persons are created equal when it asserts that God prefers some.
We need not resolve the difficult question of when life begins. When those trained in the respective disciplines of medicine, philosophy, and theology are unable to arrive at any consensus, the judiciary, at this point in the development of man's knowledge, is not in a position to speculate as to the answer.
I hope you will be yourself, human, even a little sentimental, possessed of a sense of humor and a sense of humility. . . . There are arrogant people in this world and, what is worse, arrogant judges.
The right to privacy...is broad enough to encompass a woman's decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy.
Over our history there are always those who want to take this wall of separation and remove a brick here or there or damage it more than that. I think one has to be vigilant and constantly on the alert.