Voting Station

G. Harrold Carswell

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Judge

The Resume

    (December 22, 1919-July 13, 1992)
    Born in Irwinton, Georgia
    Birth name was George Harrold Carswell
    United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida (1953-58)
    US District Court Judge (1958-69)
    Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge (1969-70)
    Nominated for the Supreme Court by Richard M. Nixon
    Nomination rejected by the US Senate, 45-51 (April 8, 1970)

Why he might be annoying:

    When Nixon's first Supreme Court nominee, Clement Haynsworth of South Carolina, was rejected, he told an aide to find a judge 'further south and further to the right,' leading to Carswell.
    He had declared, 'I believe that segregation of the races is proper and the only practical and correct way of life in our states. I have always so believed and I shall always so act.' (1948)
    He was criticized for the high reversal rate (58%) of his decisions as District Court judge.
    He blamed his rejection on 'the northern press and its knee-jerking followers in the Senate.'
    He resigned from the bench to run for the Senate from Florida so he could 'confront the liberals who shot me down,' but lost the Republican nomination (1970).
    He was convicted of making advances to an undercover police officer in a Tallahassee men's room (1976).

Why he might not be annoying:

    He served in the Naval Reserves during World War II.
    He inspired a memorable defense when Republican Senator Roman Hruska said, 'Even if he were mediocre, there are a lot of mediocre judges and people and lawyers. They are entitled to a little representation, aren't they, and a little chance? We can't have all Brandeises, Frankfurters and Cardozos.'
    When he ran for Senate, he was endorsed by actors John Wayne and Gene Autry.
    He was beaten by a man he invited to his hotel room (1979).

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 70.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 8 Votes: 87.50% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 14 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 27 Votes: 51.85% Annoying