George Harrold Carswell
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Claims to fame: Segregationist; federal appeals court judge; failed Nixon nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court; criminal
Moral apex: Arrested in 1976 for making a pass at an undercover cop in men’s room at a Tallahassee, Florida, shopping mall.
What happened next: He checked himself into a psych ward.
In the end: “Lewd and lascivious act” charges dropped; convicted of simple battery.
Strange twist: As recounted by George Painter (”The Sensibilities of Our Forefathers: The History of Sodomy Laws in the United States”): “As a result of this arrest, police discovered that Carswell had known a gay teacher murdered just two weeks after Carswell’s nomination to the Supreme Court was made by President Nixon. The teacher, when found dead, was wearing a watch that had belonged to Carswell’s son.”
Fun fact #1: According to Rainbow Lives: “The rest room where he was arrested became a popular local tourist attraction and eventually had to be closed.”
Fun fact #2: He wasn’t rejected by the Senate for being gay or anything like that; part of the problem was his segregationist stance, but mostly, he was rejected for being too “mediocre.”
Memorable observation:
“Even if he is mediocre, there are a lot of mediocre judges and people and lawyers. They are entitled to a little representation, aren’t they?”
— Sen. Roman Hruska (R-Neb.)
Suggested Bible reading for Mr. Carswell:
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
— Matthew 10:32
