Interview with former Michigan Supreme Court Justice John W. Fitzgerald

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Description:

Part 1: In an oral history interview, former Michigan Supreme Court Justice John W. Fitzgerald discusses his family background, serving in the armed forces, attending law school at the University of Michigan, the early days of his legal career, and running for the the Michigan Senate in 1958 and the newly created Michigan Court of Appeals in 1964. Justice Fitzgerald also talks about his decision to leave the Court of Appeals to serve on the Michigan Supreme Court, the Supreme Court election process, his own campaigns and his decision not to accept campaign contributions from lawyers. Fitzgerald further provides insight on the Supreme Court's decision making process, the composition of the Court during his tenure and the famous Scholle vs. Secretary of State case. Part 2: In an oral history interview, former Michigan Supreme Court Justice John W. Fitzgerald talks about his early days on the Michigan Supreme Court and difficult issues faced by the Court in the nineteen-seventies, including selecting a new Chief Justice in 1974, the death of Justice Thomas M. Kavanagh in 1975, and the investigation of Justice John Swainson later that same year. He says that some cases suffered during that period because the Court was "short-handed". Justice Fitzgerald also discusses memorable cases decided by the Court during his tenure, including People vs. Beavers and the "Poletown" case, the legislative role of the court, and collegiality amongst the justices.

Date Created:

1990-01-01T00:00:00Z

Data Provider:

Michigan State University. Libraries

Collection:

Interviews with Michigan State Supreme Court Justices

Place:

Michigan, Michigan, Michigan, Michigan, Michigan, Michigan, and Michigan

Subject Topic:

Officials and employees, Judges, Family, Knowledge, Law, Law, Study and teaching, Elections, 1958, Officials and employees, Selection and appointment, Elections, Judges, Selection and appointment, Judges, Election, Apportionment (Election law), Death and burial, Corruption investigation, Justice, Administration of, and Trials

Subject Name:

Fitzgerald, John W. (John Warner), 1924-2006, Michigan, Supreme Court, Fitzgerald, John W. (John Warner), 1924-2006, Fitzgerald, John W. (John Warner), 1924-2006, Michigan, Legislature, Senate, Michigan, Court of Appeals, Michigan, Supreme Court, Michigan, Supreme Court, Kavanagh, Thomas M. (Thomas Matthew), 1909-1975, Swainson, John B. (John Burley), and 1925-1994

Subject Genre:

Interviews, Interviews, Interviews, Cases, and Trials, litigation, etc.

Language:

English

Rights:

In Copyright

URL:

https://n2t.net/ark:/85335/m5wd3q17s