John Minor Wisdom

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John Minor Wisdom (May 17, 1905 - May 15, 1999), was one of the Fifth Circuit Four and a liberal member of the Republican Party from Louisiana. He was a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit during the 1950s and 1960s, during which time the court became known for a series of decisions crucial in advancing the African-American Civil Rights Movement between 1955-1968. At that time, the Fifth Circuit included not only Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas ( which has been its jurisdiction since October 1, 1981), but also Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and the Panama Canal Zone.

A 1964 Time Magazine article on the Fifth Circuit titled "The Fascinating & Frenetic Fifth" gave this profile of Wisdom:

John Minor Wisdom, 59, a New Orleans aristocrat, topflight corporation lawyer and former G.O.P. national committeeman. Another Ike appointee (1957), Wisdom is probably the court's top constitutional scholar; he is equally at home in archaeology, Greek tragedy and Louisiana civil law. Wisdom is one of the best (and most painstaking) opinion writers on any U.S. bench.^[1]

Awards and associations

1988: Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award, American Judicature Society^[2]

Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

President Eisenhower nominated Wisdom to the Fifth Circuit bench on March 14, 1957. He was confirmed by the Senate on June 26, 1957 and received his commission on June 27th. He assumed senior status on January 15, 1977, and served until his death on May 15, 1999.^[3]

Famous pronouncements

"The Constitution is both color blind and color conscious. To avoid conflict with the equal protection clause, a classification that denies a benefit, causes harm, or imposes a burden must not be based on race. In that sense the Constitution is color blind. But the Constitution is color conscious to prevent discrimination being perpetuated and to undo the effects of past discrimination. The criterion is the relevancy of color to a legitimate government purpose."

- Wisdom, writing for the majority in U.S. v. Jefferson County Board of Education (1967).