G. Harrold Carswell

George Harrold "Harold" Carswell (December 22, 1919 - July 13, 1992) was a Federal Judge and an unsuccessful nominee to the United States Supreme Court.

Carswell was born in Irwinton, Georgia and he graduated from the United States Naval Academy and the University of Georgia School of Law.

Carswell served as an attorney and eventually the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. Carswell was nominated and confirmed to serve as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida in 1958. Carswell was then nominated by President Richard Nixon to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in 1969.

Nixon nominated Carswell to the Supreme Court on January 19, 1970 to replace Justice Abe Fortas. Carswell was praised by Senators such as Richard Russell and criticized by Civil Rights groups for his judicial record. Carswell was also criticized for vocally supporting White supremacy as a candidate for political office in Georgia in 1948. Carswell was also criticized for the high reversal rate (58%) of his decisions that were later appealed.

Carswell was rejected by the Senate on April 8, 1970 by a vote of 51-45. 17 Democrats and 28 Republicans voted for Carswell. 38 Democrats and 13 Republicans voted against Carswell.

After his rejection, Carswell resigned from the Court and unsuccessfully ran for the United States Senate in 1972, losing in the Republican Party primary by a large margin.

Quotes about Harold Carswell

"Even if he is mediocre, there are a lot of mediocre judges and people and lawyers. They are entitled to a little representation, aren't they?" - Roman Hruska in defense of Harold Carswell on the charges that he was 'mediocre'

See Also

Defeated nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court