Walter Nixon

Walter Nixon was a United States District Court judge who served on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. He was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson and confirmed by the United States Senate in 1968. Nixon's tenure was marked by controversy, including his involvement in a perjury case and his subsequent impeachment by the United States House of Representatives. He was also a member of the Federal Judicial Conference and the Judicial Conference of the United States.

● Early Life and Education

Walter Nixon was born in 1928 in Terry, Mississippi, and grew up in a family of modest means. He attended Mississippi College and later earned his law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law. During his time at law school, Nixon was influenced by prominent legal figures such as Hugo Black and Earl Warren. He also developed an interest in civil rights law and worked with organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Nixon's early career was shaped by his experiences working with Thurgood Marshall and other notable civil rights attorneys.

● Career

Nixon began his career as a lawyer in Jackson, Mississippi, where he worked on various cases involving voting rights and desegregation. He was also involved in the Civil Rights Movement, working closely with leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. In 1968, Nixon was appointed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi by President Lyndon B. Johnson, with the support of Senator John Stennis and Senator James Eastland. As a judge, Nixon heard cases involving Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act, and he worked with other judges, including Judge John Minor Wisdom and Judge Elbert Tuttle.

● Impeachment and Removal

In 1989, Walter Nixon was impeached by the United States House of Representatives on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. The impeachment proceedings were led by Representative Peter Rodino and Representative John Conyers, and Nixon was ultimately removed from office by the United States Senate in a vote of 89-8. The impeachment was supported by organizations like the American Bar Association and the National Lawyers Guild. Nixon's removal was also influenced by the Independent Counsel statute and the work of Independent Counsel Alexia Morrison.

● Later Life and Legacy

After his removal from office, Walter Nixon returned to private practice in Mississippi. He continued to work on civil rights cases and was involved in various community organizations, including the Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP and the Southern Poverty Law Center. Nixon's legacy is complex, with some viewing him as a champion of civil rights and others criticizing his handling of certain cases. He was also a member of the American Law Institute and the Federal Bar Association. Nixon passed away in 2006, and his funeral was attended by notable figures like Senator Trent Lott and Representative Bennie Thompson.

● Judicial Career

As a judge, Walter Nixon heard a wide range of cases, including those involving Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. He worked with other judges, such as Judge Griffin Bell and Judge Lewis Powell, and was influenced by the decisions of the Warren Court and the Burger Court. Nixon's judicial career was also shaped by his experiences working with Judge Frank Johnson and Judge J. Skelly Wright. He was a member of the Judicial Conference Committee on the Administration of the Bankruptcy System and the Federal Judicial Center. Nixon's opinions were cited by courts such as the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Category:Judges of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi