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Larsen was accused of improperly communicating with a trial judge about a case (Larsen was later found to have engaged in misconduct and publicly reprimanded). Larsen in turn filed court documents accusing Nix of similar conduct. Both the
District and Appellate courts concluded in 1995 that Nix had, in fact, improperly intervened in the trial in question. After stepping down in 1996, Justice Nix said his difficulties with Larsen were "regrettable, but we were able to eliminate that and restore confidence in the judicial system." Larsen was ultimately impeached and removed from office for unrelated misconduct.
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dollar. Nix unsuccessfully sought a new judge and a change of venue for the trial, contending that Lane, a former
Pullman porter and Democratic committeeman, had been unfairly singled out for prosecution on charges far more minor than those the other magistrates faced. After Lane was convicted and sentenced to 11 to 23 months in prison, Nix said Lane was "the first man in the history of the state charged with this crime" and that at least 19 other magistrates did the same thing but had not been charged.
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Justice Nix was involved in several high-profile controversies. In 1966, when running for election as a judge on the
Philadelphia court of common pleas, Nix was criticized for continuing to be on his father's payroll as a congressional assistant, despite working as an attorney in private practice,
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took on racial undertones when newspapers reported that Larsen allegedly threatened to publicize the fact that
Justice Nix was black in an attempt to defeat him. Larsen was investigated and exonerated by a judicial board of inquiry, however, the disputes between the Justices continued. In 1992
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He also defended
Philadelphia Magistrate Earl Lane in a 1966 case with political and racial overtones. Lane was accused of collecting $ 2 to $ 20 fees for signing copies of charges that released people accused of crimes, a procedure that was supposed to be free or, if bail was required, cost a
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before becoming a Deputy
Attorney General in 1956. After two years in the Attorney General's Office he joined his father's law firm, Nix, Rhodes and Nix, as a partner, where he gained a reputation as a civil rights advocate. During the 1960s, he represented United Neighbors, a citizens' group
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advocating improvements in a blighted section of West
Philadelphia. He served as a member of the mayor's advisory committee on civil rights in 1963, where he raised questions about racial discrimination in city government hiring, and pushed for action against slumlords. Following the
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In 1996 Nix announced his retirement from the bench, two years prior to his mandatory retirement. In announcing his retirement, Nix said, "It is time for me to walk away and smell the daisies." He indicated that he planned to travel and write, avocations he had put on hold.
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t shows that the people want ideas, that they are not interested in race, creed or color. I'm particularly impressed by the vote in the central counties. It is just unbelievable that a
Philadelphia candidate won there. And a black
349:. He was also an early voice against prosecutors using their power to exclude African Americans from juries. Although generally considered a liberal, in 1977 he was the lone voice for upholding Pennsylvania's
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On the high court, Justice Nix developed a reputation as a voice for individual rights. A champion of the broader rights accorded by the state constitution, Justice Nix led the court to interpret the
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During his time on the
Supreme Court, Nix was honored with 12 honorary doctorates and membership on the board of trustees of the American Inns of Court and many universities.
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330:. He was the first African American state court Chief Justice in the United States. From 1991 to 1992 he served as President of the National Conference of Chief Justices.
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in 1971, and was elected the following year. He was the first
African American elected to statewide office in Pennsylvania history. Of his election, Justice Nix said: "
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In 1967 Nix was elected as a judge on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. He was appointed an associate justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court by
467:"PHILADELPHIA BAR ASSOCIATION RESOLUTION URGING THAT THE PENNSYLVANIA JUDICIAL CENTER BE RENAMED "CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERT N. C. NIX, JR. JUDICIAL CENTER""
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and for collecting money each month from Congress in rent for his father's use of space in Nix's office. The rental agreement was dropped soon after.
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302:, Nix commented that unless the nation made a commitment to racial equality, it faced "an internal conflagration that will reduce it to ashes."
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for 24 years, 12 of which were as chief justice, and was a prominent figure in Pennsylvania law and public service for more than three decades.
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of any state's highest court, and the first African American to be elected to statewide office in Pennsylvania. He served as a justice of the
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This article is about the Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice. For his father, the first African American congressman from Pennsylvania, see
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In 1981 Justice Nix was retained for a second ten-year term in a controversial election. A public feud between Nix and Justice
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TRIBUTE: Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Chief Justice Nix: He will be Missed: A Great Loss, Roberts C. Powers, 13
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David Lauter, "Pa. High Court in Turmoil: Justices Sidestep Misconduct Probe; Impeachment Rumors Abound",
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There is a mural honoring Nix and his father at 15th and Jefferson Streets in Philadelphia.
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801:"Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Nix announces retirement from bench",
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211:(July 13, 1928 – August 23, 2003) served as the chief justice of the
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Natalie Pompilio, "Justice Nix remembered for legal legacy and kindness",
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The Honorable Life of a Justice, Sherri Kimmel, 18 Pennsylvania Lawyer 43.
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On August 23, 2003, Nix died in Philadelphia, after suffering from
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Nix served as a ward leader in Philadelphia while he was a lawyer.
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After graduating from law school, Nix spent 2 years serving in the
326:" He became chief justice in 1984, replacing former Chief Justice
652:"Robert N.C. Nix Jr., 75; First Black Chief Justice of Any State"
250:. Nix's grandfather was Nelson Cornelius Nix, who was born into
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Robert N. C. Nix Jr.: Biography and Much More from Answers.com
830:"Robert N.C. Nix Sr. & Jr. Mural | amberartanddesign.com"
740:"Robert C. Nix, Jr., Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania"
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The official biography of Justice Nix was published in 2010.
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African American Representative in the United States Congress
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679:"Philadelphia Black History All Stars: Robert N.C. Nix Jr"
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but eventually became a minister and an academic dean of
508:"MAN IN THE NEWS; FIRST BLACK CHIEF JUSTICE OF A STATE"
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Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in the United States
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273:degree; and a second-generation graduate of the
576:"Robert Nelson Cornelius Nix Jr. (1928–2003) •"
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281:degree in 1953. He was also a postgraduate of
1216:Justices of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
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8:
1241:University of Pennsylvania Law School alumni
443:R. N. C. Nix Jr., 75, Groundbreaking Judge,
97:Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
1201:Neurological disease deaths in Pennsylvania
285:for Business Administration and Economics.
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360:inducted Nix as a Commander Knight in the
337:to ensure more individual rights than the
256:South Carolina State College at Orangeburg
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1196:Central High School (Philadelphia) alumni
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300:assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
238:, on July 13, 1928. He was the son of
933:Seal of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
215:from 1984 to 1996. Nix was the first
1266:20th-century African-American lawyers
1261:21st-century African-American lawyers
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816:The Biography of Robert N.C. Nix Jr.
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555:"Ex-Justice Robert Nix dead at 75",
506:Robbins, William (January 7, 1984).
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606:University of Pennsylvania Obituary
677:Dyson, Michael Eric (2023-02-13).
490:In Memoriam - Robert N. C. Nix Jr.
277:Law School, where he received his
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622:"Philadelphia's Magisterial Mess"
413:List of African-American jurists
209:Robert Nelson Cornelius Nix Jr.
126:Robert Nelson Cornelius Nix Jr.
876:Chief Justices of Pennsylvania
574:Dixon, Euell A. (2016-12-07).
362:Order of St. Gregory the Great
242:, the first of Pennsylvania's
1:
1256:20th-century American lawyers
1231:Politicians from Philadelphia
341:, especially in the areas of
224:Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
56:Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
1251:20th-century American judges
246:and a powerhouse among city
1236:Villanova University alumni
261:Nix was a 1946 graduate of
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275:University of Pennsylvania
236:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
213:Pennsylvania Supreme Court
190:University of Pennsylvania
158:Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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757:The Philadelphia Inquirer
335:Pennsylvania Constitution
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112:
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61:
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1246:Temple University alumni
683:The Philadelphia Citizen
610:The Pennsylvania Gazette
269:, where he received his
1226:African-American judges
1054:Robert von Moschzisker
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707:New Pittsburgh Courier
953:John Bannister Gibson
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557:Philadelphia Inquirer
319:Governor Milton Shapp
91:John P. Flaherty, Jr.
54:Chief Justice of the
1221:Pennsylvania lawyers
1124:John P. Flaherty Jr.
1119:Robert N. C. Nix Jr.
1023:J. Brewster McCollum
385:Retirement and death
267:Villanova University
240:Robert N. C. Nix Sr.
179:Villanova University
167:Robert N. C. Nix Sr.
42:Robert N. C. Nix Jr.
30:Robert N. C. Nix Jr.
1140:Stephen Zappala Sr.
1089:Charles Alvin Jones
1069:William I. Schaffer
471:philadelphiabar.org
263:Central High School
21:Robert N. C. Nix Sr
1150:Ronald D. Castille
973:George W. Woodward
935:
895:Jeremiah Langhorne
759:, August 29, 2003.
628:, October 1, 1965.
559:, August 24, 2003.
347:sovereign immunity
343:search and seizure
295:United States Army
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1114:Samuel J. Roberts
1099:Benjamin R. Jones
1039:James T. Mitchell
1013:James P. Sterrett
958:Jeremiah S. Black
920:Edward Shippen IV
805:, March 25, 1996.
656:Los Angeles Times
358:Pope John Paul II
339:U.S. Constitution
328:Samuel J. Roberts
283:Temple University
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79:Samuel J. Roberts
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1155:Thomas G. Saylor
1109:Henry X. O'Brien
1104:Michael J. Eagen
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1059:Robert S. Frazer
1008:Edward M. Paxson
993:George Sharswood
968:Walter H. Lowrie
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117:Personal details
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1084:Horace Stern
1049:J. Hay Brown
1032:20th Century
988:Daniel Agnew
983:John M. Read
941:19th Century
883:18th Century
833:. Retrieved
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803:Jet Magazine
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709:. 2022-03-09
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289:Legal career
279:Juris Doctor
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154:(2003-08-23)
143:Pennsylvania
139:Philadelphia
103:
86:Succeeded by
63:
1191:2003 deaths
1186:1928 births
1145:Ralph Cappy
1018:Henry Green
963:Ellis Lewis
900:James Logan
890:David Lloyd
395:Alzheimer's
378:Rolf Larsen
74:Preceded by
1180:Categories
1165:Debra Todd
835:2024-09-12
770:Nat'l L.J.
713:2024-09-12
688:2024-09-12
581:2024-09-12
476:2024-09-12
419:References
174:Alma mater
132:1928-07-13
397:disease.
353:statute.
248:Democrats
108:1972–1996
104:In office
68:1984–1996
64:In office
1160:Max Baer
407:See also
819:Amazon.
662:May 30,
252:slavery
163:Parent
743:(PDF)
664:2016
641:563.
345:and
324:man!
271:A.B.
195:J.D.
184:B.A.
149:Died
122:Born
785:68
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