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Howell Heflin, the Judge, Has Died

Senator Howell Heflin
Senator Howell Heflin

Howell Heflin was considered by many to be one of Alabama's greatest public officials. A former chief justice of the state Supreme Court and a long-time U-S Senator, Heflin died yesterday (3/29/05) at the age of 83.By Butler Cain, Alabama Public Radio

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/national/local-national-467242.mp3

Howell Heflin, the Judge, Has Died

Tuscaloosa, AL – Howell Heflin was considered by many to be one of Alabama's greatest public officials. A former chief justice of the state Supreme Court and a long-time U-S Senator, Heflin died yesterday (3/29/05) at the age of 83. Butler Cain reports on Heflin's career and how he's being remembered.

Howell Heflin has been described as one of the last New Deal Democrats to serve in Congress. He was thought of as a political progressive, which was at times a minority position among his fellow southern lawmakers. That was especially true concerning matters of race. In an interview with Alabama Public Radio a couple of years ago, Heflin said several factors shaped his views on race.

Heflin on ideas of race

Heflin was born in Georgia and grew up in north Alabama. After attending Birmingham-Southern College and serving as a Marine in World War Two, he earned his law degree from the University of Alabama. Heflin was president of the Alabama Bar Association and the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association. He spent more than two decades practicing law before deciding to enter the race for chief justice of the state Supreme Court.

Heflin on law career

Heflin won the office in 1970 and served as Chief Justice until 1977. Perhaps his greatest legacy as chief justice was the passage of the Judicial Article, which reformed Alabama's court system and turned it into a national model. However, Heflin says it almost didn't happen.

Heflin audio on court reform

In 1978, Heflin was elected as a Democrat to the U-S Senate. His Senate colleagues called him "The Judge." Heflin spent 18 years there before retiring in 1997. During his tenure he chaired the Senate Ethics Committee and served on the Judiciary Committee during the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas. Former Muscle Shoals Mayor Charlie Mitchell worked for Heflin on Capitol Hill.

Mitchell audio on Heflin

Heflin continued to live in Tuscumbia during his retirement. He died Tuesday afternoon at nearby Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield. Praise for Heflin was quick to come from many of those who worked with and knew him. The state Senate paused its deliberations to hold a moment of silence. Congressman Bud Cramer called Heflin a "tremendous statesman" who left an indelible mark on Alabama. U-S Senator Richard Shelby said it was a pleasure to serve with Heflin in the Senate, and Governor Bob Riley described him as a "great Alabamian."

For Alabama Public Radio, I'm Butler Cain.

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