Must Know
A lawyer and an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, often known as “the people’s attorney”. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, he studied law at Harvard and worked as a lawyer, mediator and sorter. As a lawyer, he stood by consumers and workers against exploitation by big corporations and monopolies, often working pro bono. In 1914, he was elected chairman of the Provisional Executive Committee of Zionist Affairs. In 1916, he was the first Jew to be appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. He stood out for his liberal opinions and his support for socialist legislation, often a minority stance. He promoted individual rights, freedom of speech and limitation of government surveillance and regulation.
