Trial lawyer Hugo L. Black Jr., son of famous US Supreme Court justice, is dead at 91
Hugo L. Black Jr., a longtime trial lawyer and the son of a famous U.S. Supreme Court justice, died Monday at his Florida home. He was 91 years old.
Still a practicing lawyer in Coral Gables, Fla., until shortly before his death, Black is survived by two daughters. He was predeceased by his wife and a namesake son who was also a lawyer, according to the Miami Herald.
Known for his rapport with a jury and representing the underdog, Black was also a devoted family man, his law partner told the ABA Journal.
“Juries loved Hugo,” said Bonnie J. Losak-Jimenez, who had practiced with him for over 20 years. Some of the small firm’s bigger cases during that time involved representing investors in securities cases against individuals who had taken advantage of them, she said, noting that the firm had not only prevailed but actually collected money for its clients.
“He did a lot of that, where he would represent the defrauded individual.”
The two attorneys first met, she said, when they represented opposing parties in a case between a bank and a developer. She won, as Black liked to recount afterward. “I had the better case, he was the better lawyer,” she recalls.
For some, being the son of such a famous man might have presented difficulties, but Black viewed his father’s role in his life very positively, Losak-Jimenez said. “He was certainly very, very proud of his father, spoke of his father a lot, and had a lot of respect for his memory.” Additionally, “he always talked about what his father had taught him and he very much looked up to his father and to his image, so I’m sure it influenced the way he practiced.”
Black had suffered a fracture in May, but had seemingly been in good health and doing well prior to this death.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
See also:
Mr. Justice and Mrs. Black (Random House): “I Begin the Practice of Law”
Southern District of Florida Blog: “AUSA Hugo Black III passed away this weekend “
