Aug. 18, 1961 - Judge Learned Hand (pictured in 1951), once called the greatest jurist of his time, died today at the age of 89. Judge Hand spent 52 years on the Federal bench. He retired in 1951. During his career, Judge Hand wrote more than 2,000 opinions. Many became standards for law schools. They gave him a reputation as an outstanding liberal and ardent defender of civil liberties. They also made him widely known as a master of the English language. Friends and admirers often lobbied for Hand's promotion to the Supreme Court, but circumstances and his political past conspired against his appointment.
