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”’Charles Sylvanus Rhyne”’ (23 June 1912 – 27 July 2003) was an American lawyer whose arguments before the [[Supreme Court of the United States]] led to |
”’Charles Sylvanus Rhyne”’ (23 June 1912 – 27 July 2003) was an American lawyer whose arguments before the [[Supreme Court of the United States]] led to landmark 1962 decision in ”[[Baker v. Carr]]”, which established the one person, one vote principle in legislative redistricting.<ref name=”guardian”>{{cite news |last=Jackson |first=Harold |title=Charles Rhyne |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/aug/05/guardianobituaries.usa |work=The Guardian |date=5 August 2003 |access-date=13 October 2025}}</ref><ref name=”nyt”>{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Paul |title=Charles S. Rhyne, 91, Lawyer In a Landmark Case, Drowns |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/03/us/charles-s-rhyne-91-lawyer-in-a-landmark-case-drowns.html |work=The New York Times |date=3 August 2003 |access-date=13 October 2025 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> |
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== Early life == |
== Early life == |
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Rhyne opened a law office in [[Washington, D.C.]] in 1937, developing a practice in municipal and aviation law and publishing several textbooks on the subject.<ref name=”nyt” /> He became president of the [[Bar Association of the District of Columbia]] in 1955 and promoted its racial integration.<ref name=”nyt” /> In 1958, he was elected president of the [[American Bar Association]], where he initiated the annual celebration of Law Day on May 1.<ref name=”nyt” /> |
Rhyne opened a law office in [[Washington, D.C.]] in 1937, developing a practice in municipal and aviation law and publishing several textbooks on the subject.<ref name=”nyt” /> He became president of the [[Bar Association of the District of Columbia]] in 1955 and promoted its racial integration.<ref name=”nyt” /> In 1958, he was elected president of the [[American Bar Association]], where he initiated the annual celebration of Law Day on May 1.<ref name=”nyt” /> |
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== Baker v. Carr == |
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Rhyne was general counsel to the National Institute of Municipal Law Officers when he represented Charles Baker and other urban voters in ”Baker v. Carr”. The 1962 [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] decision enabled federal courts to intervene in redistricting disputes, leading to major electoral reforms across the United States.<ref name=”guardian” /><ref name=”nyt” /> |
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Rhyne played a central role in the landmark ”[[Baker v. Carr]]” case, which transformed American electoral law. In the late 1950s, a group of urban voters in [[Tennessee]] challenged the state’s failure to redraw its legislative districts, which had remained unchanged since 1901 despite significant population growth in cities.<ref name=”guardian” /> Rhyne, then general counsel to the National Institute of Municipal Law Officers, agreed to represent them in their case against Tennessee Secretary of State Joseph Carr.<ref name=”guardian” /> |
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Arguing that the outdated apportionment diluted urban votes and violated the [[Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Fourteenth Amendment]]’s equal protection clause, Rhyne persuaded the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] to hear the case in 1961.<ref name=”guardian” /> On 26 March 1962, the Court ruled 6–2 in favor of the plaintiffs, establishing that federal courts had jurisdiction over redistricting disputes. This decision led to widespread redrawing of electoral maps and the establishment of the one person, one vote principle in the United States.<ref name=”nyt” /><ref name=”guardian” /> |
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The then Chief Justice [[Earl Warren]] described the decision as one of the most significant of his tenure.<ref name=”guardian” /> |
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== Later life and death == |
== Later life and death == |
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Revision as of 19:46, 13 October 2025
American lawyer who argued landmark electoral redistricting case Baker v. Carr
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Charles S. Rhyne |
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|---|---|
| Born |
Charles Sylvanus Rhyne (1912-06-23)23 June 1912 near Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | 27 July 2003(2003-07-27) (aged 91)
McLean, Virginia, U.S. |
| Education | Duke University George Washington University |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Known for | Baker v. Carr |
| Spouse(s) | Sue M. Cotton (d. 1974); Sarah P. Hendon |
| Children | 4 |
Charles Sylvanus Rhyne (23 June 1912 – 27 July 2003) was an American lawyer whose arguments before the Supreme Court of the United States led to the landmark 1962 decision in Baker v. Carr, which established the one person, one vote principle in legislative redistricting.[1][2]
Early life
Rhyne was born on a cotton farm near Charlotte, North Carolina.[2] He attended Duke University and its law school, where he met future president Richard Nixon. He completed his legal education at George Washington University.[2] Before his legal career, he experienced rural poverty and worked various jobs during the Great Depression.[1]
Legal career
Rhyne opened a law office in Washington, D.C. in 1937, developing a practice in municipal and aviation law and publishing several textbooks on the subject.[2] He became president of the Bar Association of the District of Columbia in 1955 and promoted its racial integration.[2] In 1958, he was elected president of the American Bar Association, where he initiated the annual celebration of Law Day on May 1.[2]
Baker v. Carr
Rhyne played a central role in the landmark Baker v. Carr case, which transformed American electoral law. In the late 1950s, a group of urban voters in Tennessee challenged the state’s failure to redraw its legislative districts, which had remained unchanged since 1901 despite significant population growth in cities.[1] Rhyne, then general counsel to the National Institute of Municipal Law Officers, agreed to represent them in their case against Tennessee Secretary of State Joseph Carr.[1]
Arguing that the outdated apportionment diluted urban votes and violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause, Rhyne persuaded the Supreme Court to hear the case in 1961.[1] On 26 March 1962, the Court ruled 6–2 in favor of the plaintiffs, establishing that federal courts had jurisdiction over redistricting disputes. This decision led to widespread redrawing of electoral maps and the establishment of the one person, one vote principle in the United States.[2][1]
The then Chief Justice Earl Warren described the decision as one of the most significant of his tenure.[1]
Later life and death
In the 1970s, Rhyne served as President Nixon’s special ambassador to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and later represented Rose Mary Woods during the Watergate scandal.[2] He married Sue M. Cotton in 1932; after her death in 1974, he married Sarah P. Hendon.[2] He died on 27 July 2003 at his home in McLean, Virginia, as a result of an accidental drowning.[2]
