Harold G. Clarke Papers, 1950-2000

Summary

Creator:

Clarke, Harold G., 1927-

Date:

1950-2000

Extent:

17 box(es) 14 audiovisual items, 1.3 megabytes

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Harold G. Clarke Papers. Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection primarily document's Justice Clarke's legal career. It includes information on his professional activities and legal education, such as seminars and training programs. The bulk of the papers cover his time on the Georgia Supreme Court, including his interest in professional conduct, attempts to modernize and streamline the court, and his case briefs and dissents. The collection also contains both professional and family photographs.

Biographical / historical:

Harold Gravely Clarke was born on September 28, 1927 in Forsyth, GA, the son of Jack H. and Ruby Lumpkin Clarke. Clarke earned his bachelor's degree and a J.D. in Law at the University of Georgia.

Before becoming the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia,

At 17 years old, Clarke enlisted in the U.S. Army during WWII and became a managing editor for the Pacific Stars and Stripes. After the war he attended the University of Georgia, where he earned a law degree. He returned to Forsythe to establish the law practice of Clarke, Haygood, and Lynch. In 1952, he married Nora Gordon. The couple had four children: Lee Ann Clarke, Harold G. Clarke Jr., Julie Clarke-Poole, and Beth Clarke-Maner.

Clarke was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1961. After serving five terms in the General Assembly, he returned to his law practice in Forsythe. He was elected president of the State Bar of Georgia in 1976, a position he used to encourage greater legal professionalism in Georgia.

George Busbee appointed Clarke tot he Georgia Supreme Court in 1979. In 1990, his colleagues elected him Chief Justice. During his tenure, Justice Clarke oversaw the expansion of civil liberties in Georgia, curtailed aggressive state prosecutors, and struck down death sentences. He briefly stepped down as chief justice in 1992 to allow his friend, Justice Charles L. Weltner, who was battling cancer, to serve as Chief Justice for the last few months of of his life. Clarke resumed the position of chief justice in 1992. Justice Clarke stepped down from the court two years later and returned to private practice at the firm Troutman Sanders, where he chaired the firm's Alternative Displute Resolution Group.

Arrangement:

This collection is divided into seven series: Series 1: Professional Activitist Series 2: Office of the Chief Justice Series 3: Personal Files Series 4: Law School Files Series 5: Photographs Series 6: Artifacts Series 7: Audiovisual

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Judges -- Georgia.
Judicial records

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

This collection contains digital files. To access these files, please request the folders you would like through the finding aid using your research account. An archivist will be in contact with you to explain how to access the files. Please note that not all file formats are currently supported by the library for research use.

Terms of access:

Before material from collections at the Richard B. Russell Library may be quoted in print, or otherwise reproduced, in whole or in part, in any publication, permission must be obtained from (1) the owner of the physical property, and (2) the holder of the copyright. It is the particular responsibility of the researcher to obtain both sets of permissions. Persons wishing to quote from materials in the Russell Library collection should consult the Director. Reproduction of any item must contain a complete citation to the original.

Preferred citation:

Harold G. Clarke Papers. Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.