Wiley Manuel Explained

Wiley William Manuel
Office:Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California
Termstart:March 1977
Termend:January 1981
Appointer:Governor Jerry Brown
Predecessor:Raymond L. Sullivan
Successor:Otto M. Kaus
Birth Date:28 August 1927
Birth Place:Oakland, California, U.S.
Death Place:Oakland, California, U.S.
Alma Mater:University of California, Berkeley (B.A.)
Hastings College of Law (LL.B.)

Wiley William Manuel (August 28, 1927 - January 5, 1981)[1] was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of California from 1977 to 1981 and the first African American to serve on the high court.

Biography

Manuel was born in Oakland, California, grew up near Ward and Dohr Streets in South Berkeley, and was educated in the public schools.[2] After graduating in 1945 from Berkeley High School he studied at the University of California, Berkeley.[3] Then he attended Hastings College of Law and in 1953 received his LL.B. degree with Order of the Coif honors.[4] [5] He also served as Editor-in-Chief of the Hastings Law Journal.[6] [7] [8]

Following law school, Manuel worked for 23 years in the California Attorney General's office, rising to chief assistant attorney general in the San Francisco office.[9] [10] In March 1956, then-Deputy Attorney General Manuel announced that municipalities adding fluoride to public drinking water cannot be charged with practicing dentistry.[11]

In January 1976, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Manuel to the post of judge of the Alameda County Superior Court.[12]

On February 12, 1977, Governor Brown elevated Manuel to the Supreme Court. On March 8, 1977, he was approved by the Judicial Qualifications Commission, he was sworn in on March 24, 1977, and took his seat on April 5, 1977.[13] [14] [15] [16] He was the first African American justice of the Supreme Court.[17] [14] Also in 1977, he delivered the keynote address at the first meeting of the California Association of Black Lawyers.[18] Among his notable cases is the criminal prosecution against William and Emily Harris of the Symbionese Liberation Army on charges of kidnapping Patricia Hearst in 1974.[19] In August 1977, Manuel wrote the 6  - 1 majority opinion that the trial court abused its discretion in denying the defendants' request for state-appointed counsel of their choosing.[20] Manuel served for only four years before he died of stomach cancer.[9] [7]

Honors and legacy

In honor of Manuel, there is a non-profit scholarship foundation in Northern California.[21] Manuel, who was known for his dedication to pro bono work, has a pro bono award named after him awarded by the State Bar of California each year.[22] [23] [24] The Wiley Manuel Courthouse, part of the Alameda County Superior Court, was named after him.[25]

Personal life

In 1948, he married Eleanor M. Williams, and she currently resides in Oakland, California. He died on January 5, 1981. He was survived by his wife and their two children, Yvonne and Gary Manuel.[26]

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: In Loving Memory of my Husband Hon. Wiley W. Manuel 30th Anniversary Aug. 28, 1927 - Jan. 5, 1981. June 17, 2017. East Bay Times. Legacy.com. January 5, 2011.
  2. Book: Lipsitz. George. Midnight at the Barrelhouse: The Johnny Otis Story. 2010. U of Minnesota Press. Bloomington, MN. 978-0816666782. 6. registration. wiley manuel berkeley high school.. August 19, 2017.
  3. News: 6 to join Berkeley High Hall of Fame. August 19, 2017. Berkeley Daily Planet. April 17, 2000.
  4. Hastings Community. Hastings Alumni Publications. Fall 1992. 81. 23. August 23, 2017. Hastings College of the Law Alumni Association. San Francisco, CA.
  5. News: Endicott. William. From the Archives: Wiley Manuel, First Black on State High Court, Dies. June 12, 2017. Los Angeles Times. January 6, 1981.
  6. http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8k64kf7/entire_text/ Wiley W. Manuel Papers
  7. Web site: In memoriam: Wiley Manuel. California Supreme Court. June 12, 2017. 1982.
  8. The Wiley W. Manuel Scholarship. Hastings Community, Hastings Alumni Publications. Summer 1987. 71. 6.
  9. News: Turner. Wallace. Wiley Manuel, 53, Dead in California. June 12, 2017. New York Times. January 6, 1981.
  10. Web site: Press release: Attorney General Kamala D. Harris issues Statement Honoring Black History Month. Attorney General of California. June 12, 2017. February 6, 2012.
  11. News: Press Stoppers. July 31, 2017. Desert Sun. 118. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 3 March 1956. 1.
  12. News: Governor Appoints 19 to Judge Posts. May 31, 2024. Chico Enterprise-Record. 31 January 1976. 2.
  13. News: Manuel OKd For Court Post. July 31, 2017. Desert Sun. UPI. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 8 March 1977. A3.
  14. News: Rose Bird Now Chief Justice. July 31, 2017. Desert Sun. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 26 March 1977. A1.
  15. News: New Justices Seated. July 31, 2017. Desert Sun. UPI. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 5 April 1977. A2.
  16. News: African-American justices honored for 50 years of service. June 17, 2017. East Bay Times. April 24, 2011.
  17. News: And Justice For All. July 31, 2017. LA Downtown News. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 5 March 2012. 14.
  18. Web site: CA Association of Black Lawyers Honors UC Hastings Alumni. UC Hastings School of Law. August 19, 2017. April 14, 2012.
  19. http://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/3d/19/786.html Harris v. Superior Court
  20. News: Harrises' Request OK'd. July 31, 2017. Desert Sun. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 25 August 1977. A2.
  21. Web site: Justice Wiley W. Manuel Scholarship. UC Hastings College of Law. June 12, 2017.
  22. News: Taylor gets award. July 31, 2017. Coronado Eagle and Journal. 25. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 27 June 1991. 27. Coronado resident Timothy Taylor of the law firm Sheppard, Mullin, Richter and Hampton was honored as a 1991 Wiley W. Manuel Pro Bono Award winner by the State Bar of California..
  23. News: Coronadan honored with pro bono award for community service. July 31, 2017. Coronado Eagle and Journal. 10. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 5 March 1992. 26. The State Bar of California has honored Coronado resident Timothy W. O'Brien with the 1991 Wiley W, Manuel Pro Bono Award. This award is named in recognition of retired California Supreme Court Judge Wiley W. Manuel for his important contributions in minority rights issues..
  24. News: Coronado Attorney Recognized for Pro Bono Work. July 31, 2017. Coronado Eagle. 18. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 4 May 1994. 7. The Wiley W. Manuel Award was created in 1989 by the State Bar of California to recognize lawyers, law students, secretaries, and paralegals in the state who provide 50 or more pro bono hours of service a year to low-income clients..
  25. Web site: The History of the Wiley Manuel Bar Association of Sacramento County. The Wiley Manuel Bar Association of Sacramento County. 20 August 2012.
  26. News: Payton. Brenda. Mothers keep meeting even after 52 years. June 18, 2017. East Bay Times. May 16, 2005.

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