He took pre-law courses at the University of Cincinnati and obtained a law degree at Union Law School, now Northwestern University School of Law, in Chicago, IL. He graduated in 1891, and opened a law practice in Chicago. After being appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt to the bench of the Northern District of Illinois in 1905, Landis dealt with several cases of historical significance during his career as a U.S. federal judge. In 1907, he presided over a Standard Oil antitrust trial fining them $29 million for accepting rail freight rebates, although the verdict was later set aside.
In 1918, he presided over the trial of over 100 members of the Industrial Workers of the World (including Big Bill Haywood) on the charge of violating (by hindering the draft) the Espionage Act of 1917. He also presided over the December 1918 trial of 5 prominent Socialist Party of America leaders, including Victor Berger, SPA Executive Secretary Adolph Germer, youth section leader William Kruse, and editor of the party's national newspaper J. Louis Engdahl. While Landis oversaw the convictions of many in these trials, imposing draconian verdicts, many of the verdicts were reversed on appeal or nullified by presidential pardon.
Landis was also instrumental in getting heavyweight champion Jack Johnson banned from the sport by charging him with transporting a white woman over state lines for prostitution.
The end of Landis' judicial career overlapped his duties as baseball commissioner, a position he accepted in November 1920. Throughout 1921 Landis came under intense criticism for his moonlighting, and congressional members called for his impeachment. In February 1922, Landis resigned his position as a federal judge saying that, "There aren't enough hours in the day for me to handle the courtroom and the various other jobs I have taken on."
See also: Commercial Estate Agents and six pack abs and apuestas futbol and slim digital camera and cellulite treatment and automated affiliate formula and princess furniture and Mens Engagement Rings and fat loss diets
No comments:
Post a Comment