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Willis Van Devanter (April 17, 1859 - February 8, 1941) was Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1911 to 1937. He was one of the so-called "Four Horseman"-four judges of the Court who had blocked several parts of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal legislation.
Willis Van Devanter in Joe Steele
Justice Willis Van Devanter[1] (1862-1934) was one of the so-called "Supreme Court Four", a group of justices on the United States Supreme Court who overturned most of the legislation passed as part of President Joe Steele's Four Year Plan.[2] In response, Steele conferred with Bureau of Investigation Chief J. Edgar Hoover to investigate the justices.[3] Then Steele gave a radio speech in which he denounced the Supreme Court as nine old men who were not elected, and who were actively wrecking the country. Steele implied the Court's actions were deliberate, and promised that there would be an investigation.[4]
Hoover discovered "evidence" that four justices - George Sutherland, James McReynolds, Pierce Butler, and Willis Van Devanter - were in fact colluding with Nazi Germany against the United States. In February, 1934, Hoover led a group of agents to very publicly arrest the Supreme Court Four for treason while they were in the middle of deliberations.[5] For good measure, President Steele suspended the writ of habeas corpus immediately after, insuring that the Four remained in custody until their trial.[6]
The Four faced a military tribunal in September 1934. Upon the beginnings of the proceedings, Justice James McReynolds informed the tribunal that he wished to enter a guilty plea and throw himself upon their mercy. The ACLU attorneys attempted to object, claiming the confession was coerced, which AG Wyszynski denied. Captain Spruance questioned McReynolds, who denied any coercion and claimed he received adequate treatment. Spruance then turned to the other three judges, who also admitted their guilt. McReyolds stated for the record that they believed that Steele was the "American Trotsky",[7] and that colluding with the Nazis was the best way to keep the U.S. a democracy.[8] Justice Sutherland added that they weren't the only ones, and named Louisiana Senator Huey Long and radio personality and Steele critic, Father Coughlin.[9]
The tribunal went into recess to deliberate. That afternoon, the tribunal unanimously found the Four guilty, and sentenced them to execution by firing squad.[10] Their attorneys pledged to appeal. With few options, the ACLU appealed to the remaining Supreme Court and to President Steele, and published letters in the newspapers.[11] Ultimately, Steele denied their appeal, and the Four were executed at sunrise some weeks after their conviction. [12]
Van Devanter was the only justice to slump in his seat when Spruance passed the death sentence. The other three remained upright and still.
Literary comment
In the short story, Willis Van Devanter and the other judges are called the "Gang of Four", but meet the exact same fate as in the novel. Their trial is more detailed in the novel.
References
| Political offices (OTL) | ||
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| Preceded by Edward Douglass White |
Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court January 3, 1911 - June 2, 1937 |
Succeeded by Hugo Black |
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