Fred C. Struckmeyer Jr.

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 by Marlin T. Phelps
Succeeded by William A. Holohan
Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court
In office
January 3, 1955 – January 4, 1982
Preceded by Rawghlie Clement Stanford
Succeeded by Stanley Feldman
Personal details
Born January 4, 1912
Phoenix, Arizona
Died June 22, 1992
Alma mater University of Arizona

Fred 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.

Struckmeyer, was the son of Fred Struckmeyer Sr., who served one term on the Superior Court in Maricopa County from 1923-1925. Struckmeyer received a bachelors and then a law degree in 1936 from the University of Arizona. He went to work as a deputy Maricopa County attorney before serving in the Army during World War II where he was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.[1]

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.[2] After his mandatory retirement at the age of 70 he was appointed to the Arizona Racing Commission.[1]

On February 9, 1953, Judge Struckmeyer decided the case Phillips vs. Phoenix Union High Schools and Junior College District, a case over Arizona's only legally segregated high school. In the case, Struckmeyer ruled that the Arizona law permitting school boards to segregate pupils was unconstitutional, and the Phoenix Union district's segregation of African-American students was illegal. His decision was made a year before the U.S. Supreme Court decided Brown v. Board of Education.[3]

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."[1][4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ex-Justice Fred Struckmeyer Dies, The Arizona Republic, June 22, 1982, B2
  2. ↑ Frederick C. Struckmeyer
  3. ↑ "Law Library - Phillips vs. Phoenix Union High Schools and Junior College District Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County, No. 72909".
  4. ↑ "Arizona's Supreme Court Blocks A Special Gubernatorial Election". The New York Times. 13 April 1988.



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