Solomon Blatt, Jr.

Solomon Blatt, Jr.
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina
In office May 28, 1971 – May 7, 1990
Appointed by	Richard Nixon
Preceded by	Donald S. Russell
Succeeded by	David C. Norton
Personal details
Born	(1921-08-20) August 20, 1921 Barnwell, South Carolina
Spouse(s)	Carolyn Gayden
Alma mater	University of South Carolina
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1942–1946
Rank	Lieutenant
Battles/wars	World War II

Solomon "Sol" Blatt, Jr. (born August 20, 1921) is a federal district judge in South Carolina and former trustee of the University of South Carolina.

Early life

Blatt (pronounced "blot") was born in Barnwell, South Carolina, to Solomon Blatt, Sr., speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives, and Ethel Green. He attended the University of South Carolina and received his bachelor's degree in 1941. While at the university, Blatt was a member on the boxing team, competed in the lightweight class, and was a member of the Euphradian Society. He was elected as the student president for his senior term, but was engulfed in controversy when he and his roommate attempted to bring two females to their dorm room. They were caught and suspended from the university for Easter week, a decision derided by Blatt's opponents as too lenient since it meant that they would only miss a couple days of classes. His rivals protested by burning effigies of him and denouncing the influence of his father in the university's affairs.

Career

Blatt enlisted in the Navy after America's entrance into World War II and was commissioned an officer. He served on a destroyer that escorted liberty ships to Europe as well as participating in anti-submarine warfare. After the war, Blatt obtained a J.D. degree in 1946 from the University of South Carolina and he commenced the practice of law in Barnwell for the firm Blatt and Fales; he remained in private practice until 1971. The same year, his father had to resign as a trustee for the University of South Carolina because of a provision in the state constitution prohibiting dual office holding. The elder Blatt nominated his son to the board at just age twenty-five and the General Assembly approved the nomination. The students responded by hanging an effigy of Speaker Blatt at Maxcy Monument with a poem attached that read "King Sol: Through my son I shall rule, with house members as my tools."^[1]

As a trustee, Blatt served on the athletic committee and was instrumental in recruiting Frank McGuire as head coach of the men's basketball team. Blatt fully supported the university's withdrawal from the Atlantic Coast Conference in March 1971 because of the conference's strict academic standards and the special exceptions received by the North Carolina schools.

In 1971, through the recommendation of Senator Strom Thurmond, President Nixon nominated Blatt for the vacant judgeship of the District Court for South Carolina, a seat vacated by Donald Stuart Russell. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 26, 1971, and received his commission on May 28, 1971. He served as chief judge from 1986-1990. He assumed senior status on May 7, 1990. His court cases consist primarily of criminal cases.

Personal life

Blatt married Carolyn Gayden in 1942 and they had three children. He remains an avid supporter of South Carolina athletics and has been a season ticket holder for football games since 1946.

Notes

References

• Solomon Blatt, Jr. at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

External links

• Biography of Sol Blatt, Jr.