CHIEF JUSTICE EARL WARREN - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 06/04/1965 - HFSID 32106

EARL WARREN
Earl Warren Thanks Law Clerks: Reflects Amidst Influential Supreme Court Rulings.
TLS: "Earl Warren" as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, 1p, 7½x10. Washington, D.C., 1965 June 4. On letterhead of Supreme Court of the United States, Chambers of the Chief Justice letterhead to Mr. James K. Hoenig, O'Melveny & Myers, Los Angeles, California. Begins: "Dear Jim". In full: "Now that most of the Court work is finished, one of the first things I am going to do is to take a little time to write and tell you how very much I appreciated the thoughtfulness of my law clerks in presenting me with such a fine gift. The beautiful silver picture frames are not only a timely but a very useful present. Mrs. Warren and I are very happy to have them, and are now working toward getting appropriate pictures of all the grandchildren to put in them. It is good to know that you not only anticipated growth in the family but provided for it. I can report progress because we already have one in escrow (Virginia). We missed you at the dinner, but I am well aware of the difficulties involved in the transcontinental travel, and can fully understand your inability to be here. Those of us who were present had a wonderful time. It was truly a heart-warming affair. Again my thanks and very best wishes to you and your family." Accompanied by original typed U.S. Supreme Court envelope, which is affixed to verso. Three days before the 1964 term of the U.S. Supreme Court officially ended, Chief Justice Earl Warren (1891-1975) signed this letter commenting on the dinner given him by his law clerks and the pregnancy of his eldest daughter, Virginia, the wife of news correspondent John Daly. Warren, who considered his clerks as part of his extended family, appreciated the annual tradition and followed another Supreme Court custom by issuing the most controversial and important decisions on the last day of the term. On June 7, the Court announced its final renderings on Estes vs. Texas and the historic Griswold vs. Connecticut. As Chief Justice (1953-1969), Warren exerted great influence over the Court and sided with a strong majority in each instance. However, the Chief Justice, who found it unnecessary to issue even one dissent during the entire term, led a four-man minority at the beginning of the Estes case. Vehemently against televised court proceedings, especially in criminal trials, Warren prepared a 34-page dissent affirming that television "violates the decorum of the courtroom." The Chief Justice's points persuaded Justice Tom Clark to change his stand and ultimately write the majority opinion. In Griswold, the case with the greatest legal impact, the Court overturned a state law prohibiting the use of contraceptives and the issuance of medical advise related to them. The majority, although differing in their reasoning, agreed that the law was unconstitutional. Warren assigned the opinion to Justice William O. Douglas, who established that a couple's right to privacy was guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. Justice Brian White penned a concurrence stating his belief that the law infringed upon the 14th Amendment's Due Process Clause. Wishing that Douglas had used as specific an approach (based on the Constitution) as White had, the Chief Justice was debating between Douglas' and White's reasoning as of June 3. In the end, Warren ensured a strong majority opinion by signing Justice Arthur Goldberg's concurrence, which elaborated and fully supported Douglas' landmark stand. Warren, who was nominated Chief Justice by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, developed a fair and ethical Court (often classified as liberal) that devoted itself to protecting the rights of all Americans. Under his leadership, the Brethren set precedents against racial segregation in schools (Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, 1954) and supported the "one man, one vote" form of apportionment in state legislatures (Reynolds vs. Sims, 1964). The Court also strengthened criminal procedures by forcing police to read suspects their rights before legal officials began any form of questioning (Miranda vs. State of Arizona, 1966). In 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Warren as Chairman of the commission to investigate the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Prior to his tenure as Chief Justice, Warren had served as California's Attorney General (1939-1943) and Governor (1943-1953). Lightly creased with folds, not at signature. Fine condition. Framed to an overall size of 20¼x30¾.