Blackwell Reference Online

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(b. Louisa, Ky., 22 January 1890; d. Washington, D.C., 8 September 1953) At the age of 21 Vinson passed the Ky. bar exam. He entered Congress at 33 and became influential in passing N ew D eal legislation. He served as judge of the US Court of Appeals for Washington, D.C. (1938–43), held several high administrative posts, and was secretary of the Treasury (1945–6) before being confirmed as chief justice on 20 June 1946. The Vinson Court issued several important decisions undermining racial SEGREGATION, of which Vinson wrote Shelley v. Kraemer ( see C orrigan v. B uckley ), M c L aurin v. O klahoma , and S weatt v. P ainter . Many opinions about subversive activities were given in Vinson's tenure, of which Vinson authored A merican C ommunications A ssociation , CIO et al . v. D ouds , D ennis et al. v. U nited S tates , and the case of Julius and Ethel R osenberg. ... log in or subscribe to read full text