Harry Blackmun

Harry Andrew Blackmun (November 12, 1908 – March 4, 1999) was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1970 to 1994. He is best known as the author of the majority opinion in the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, overturning laws restricting abortion in the United States.

Appellate bench

President Dwight David Eisenhower appointed Blackmun to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on 4 November 1959. Blackmun's opinions on the circuit court level were mainly tax-related, although he wrote influential opinions about other matters, including Jackson v. Bishop (1968), which was probably the first appellate opinion to declare that physical abuse of prisoners was cruel and unusual punishment under the Constitution.

Related Topics:
Dwight David Eisenhower - United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit - 4 November - 1959

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He was nominated for the Supreme Court by Richard Nixon on 4 April 1970, and was confirmed by the United States Senate later the same year. Blackmun's confirmation followed contentious battles over other unsuccessful nominations forwarded by Nixon that same year, those of Clement Haynsworth and G. Harrold Carswell. Blackmun's nomination sailed through the Senate with no opposition on 17 May 1970.

Related Topics:
Richard Nixon - 4 April - 1970 - United States Senate - Clement Haynsworth - G. Harrold Carswell - 17 May

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