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Joel Bascom Brown (May 18, 1872 – April 13, 1953) [1] was a justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama from 1920 to 1921, and again from 1927 to 1953.

Biography

Born in Morgan County, Alabama, [2] Brown "attended the common schools" of his county, [3] and graduated from Hartselle College in 1889. [4] He read law to gain admission to the bar in Cullman County in 1892. [3] [4]

In 1914, he ran for a seat on the state court of appeals, [3] to which he was elected, being sworn into office in November of that year. [5] [6] In 1919, he was elected to a seat on the state supreme court vacated by the resignation of Justice James J. Mayfield. [7]

In 1921, Benjamin M. Miller succeeded Brown, but "Brown returned to the Court in 1927, succeeding Justice Miller". [7]

Brown's second stint on the court lasted for 26 years, until his death on April 12, 1953. Brown was succeeded on the court by the appointment of Preston C. Clayton. [7]

Personal life and death

In 1898, Brown married Minnie Heidelberg of Cullman, [2] who had come there from her home state of California. [6] She died in 1939, and in 1941, he married Rebecca Knight Odum, daughter of associate justice Thomas E. Knight. [1] [4]

Brown died at the age of 81 in a hospital in Montgomery, where he had been taken following a heart attack. [1]

References

  1. ^ a b c " Heart Attack Proves Fatal To Justice Joel B. Brown", Alabama Journal (April 13, 1953), p. 1.
  2. ^ a b " Prominent Professional Men of Cullman", The Cullman Tribune (January 1, 1914), p. 7.
  3. ^ a b c " Col. J. B. Brown", The Cullman Tribune (February 12, 1914), p. 4.
  4. ^ a b c "Joel Bascom Brown" (PDF). Judiciary of Alabama. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  5. ^ " Brown to Assume Duties This Week", Birmingham Post-Herald (November 18, 1914), p. 6.
  6. ^ a b " Wives of Appellate Court Justices", The Cullman Tribune (January 28, 1915), p. 5.
  7. ^ a b c "Alabama Appellate Courts: History of Supreme Court". Judiciary of Alabama. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
Political offices
Preceded by Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama
1920–1921
1927–1953
Succeeded by