Fred C. Struckmeyer Jr.

Frederick C. Struckmeyer, Jr. (January 4, 1912 – June 22, 1992) was a Justice of the Supreme Court of Arizona from January 3, 1955 to January 19, 1982. He served as Chief Justice of the court on four occasions. [1]

Fred C. Struckmeyer Jr.
Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court
In office
January 1960  December 1961
In office
January 1966  December 1966
In office
January 1971  December 1971
In office
January 1980  January 1, 1981
Preceded byMarlin T. Phelps
Succeeded byWilliam A. Holohan
Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court
In office
January 3, 1955  January 4, 1982
Preceded byRawghlie Clement Stanford
Succeeded byStanley Feldman
Personal details
BornJanuary 4, 1912
Phoenix, Arizona
DiedJune 22, 1992(1992-06-22) (aged 80)
Alma materUniversity of Arizona
Judge Struckmeyer & Family, circa 1922

Biography

Struckmeyer was the eldest son of Justice Frederick Christian "F.C." Struckmeyer, Sr., who served one term on the Superior Court in Maricopa County from 1923-1925, then as Code Commissioner. Struckmeyer received a Bachelor's degree and then a Law degree in 1936 from University of Arizona. He went to work as a deputy Maricopa County attorney before serving in the United States Army during World War II where he was awarded the Silver Star Bronze Star Medal and a Purple Heart.[2]

He became a Superior Court judge in 1950. Five years later he was elected to the Arizona Supreme Court where he served for 26 years. At 43, he was the youngest person ever elected or appointed to the Supreme Court.[3] After his mandatory retirement at the age of 70 he was appointed to the Arizona Racing Commission.[2][4]

On February 9, 1953, Judge Struckmeyer decided the case Phillips vs. Phoenix Union High Schools and Junior College District, a case over Carver High School, the only legally segregated high school in the state. In the case, Struckmeyer ruled that the Arizona law permitting school boards to segregate pupils was unconstitutional, and the Phoenix Union High School District segregation of African-American students was illegal. His decision was made a year before the Supreme Court of the United States decided Brown v. Board of Education.[5] [6]

In 1988, he rejoined the high court for Green v. Osborne, a 4-1 decision that canceled a recall election for Evan Mecham because Mecham already had been impeached and removed as governor.[2][7]

Judge Struckmeyer died during 1992 and was buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix.

See also

References

  1. "Frederick C. Struckmeyer". Arizona Legal Legacies Project. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  2. Ex-Justice Fred Struckmeyer Dies, The Arizona Republic, June 22, 1982, B2
  3. Frederick C. Struckmeyer legallegacy.org
  4. "Fred C. Struckmeyer Jr. Chief Justice from 1/1960 to 12/1961, 1/1966 to 12/1966, 1/1971 to 12/1971, 1/1980 to 12/1981". Arizona Supreme Court. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  5. "Law Library - Phillips vs. Phoenix Union High Schools and Junior College District Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County, No. 72909".
  6. "Phillips vs. PUHS". superiorcourt.maricopa.gov. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  7. "Arizona's Supreme Court Blocks A Special Gubernatorial Election". The New York Times. 13 April 1988.
  • Zarbin, Earl A (1991) The bench and the bar: A history of Maricopa County's legal profession (Windsor Publications) ISBN 9780897814331


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