Appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965, Justice Abe Fortas served on the Supreme Court for only four years but left a significant mark on constitutional law. Before joining the Court, Fortas was a highly respected attorney, playing a key role in landmark cases like Gideon v. Wainwright (1963), which established the right to legal counsel for indigent defendants.
On the Court, Fortas championed civil liberties, particularly in cases involving the rights of juveniles and free speech. In Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969), he authored the majority opinion affirming that students do not “shed their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate.” This decision remains a cornerstone of student rights under the First Amendment.
Fortas’s career on the bench ended in controversy. Nominated by Johnson to become Chief Justice in 1968, his confirmation faced intense opposition, partly due to allegations of ethical improprieties. These controversies eventually led to his resignation in 1969. Despite his brief tenure, Fortas’s decisions and advocacy significantly influenced the evolution of civil rights and constitutional protections.
