Horace Stern
Encyclopedia
Horace Stern was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
from 1 November 1952 to 29 December 1956. He was elevated to the Chief Justice position after serving on the Court from 6 January 1936.
Stern was born to a Jewish family in North Philadelphia, one of eight children. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania
in 1899, and from the University of Pennsylvania Law School
summa cum laude in 1902. Prior to his elevation to the bench, Stern was a professor at University of Pennsylvania Law School, where his portrait still hangs today. He went on to co-found of the law firm of Wolf, Block, Schorr & Solis-Cohen (later called WolfBlock
) in 1903, before taking an appointment to the Philadelphia County
Court of Common Pleas
in 1920.
Stern was the first Jew to serve on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the first Jewish trustee of the University of Pennsylvania
. He was also very active within Philadelphia's Jewish community, having served as president of the Federation of Jewish Charities and having been a founder of the American Jewish Committee
.
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the court of last resort for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It meets in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.-History:...
from 1 November 1952 to 29 December 1956. He was elevated to the Chief Justice position after serving on the Court from 6 January 1936.
Stern was born to a Jewish family in North Philadelphia, one of eight children. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1899, and from the University of Pennsylvania Law School
University of Pennsylvania Law School
The University of Pennsylvania Law School, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the law school of the University of Pennsylvania. A member of the Ivy League, it is among the oldest and most selective law schools in the nation. It is currently ranked 7th overall by U.S. News & World Report,...
summa cum laude in 1902. Prior to his elevation to the bench, Stern was a professor at University of Pennsylvania Law School, where his portrait still hangs today. He went on to co-found of the law firm of Wolf, Block, Schorr & Solis-Cohen (later called WolfBlock
WolfBlock
WolfBlock LLP was a large U.S. law firm and lobbying group based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The National Law Journal ranked WolfBlock the 149th largest firm in the United States, and the 10th largest in Philadelphia, by number of attorneys...
) in 1903, before taking an appointment to the Philadelphia County
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
-History:Tribes of Lenape were the first known occupants in the area which became Philadelphia County. The first European settlers were Swedes and Finns who arrived in 1638. The Netherlands seized the area in 1655, but permanently lost control to England in 1674...
Court of Common Pleas
Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas
The Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania .The Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of general jurisdiction in the state....
in 1920.
Stern was the first Jew to serve on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the first Jewish trustee of the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. He was also very active within Philadelphia's Jewish community, having served as president of the Federation of Jewish Charities and having been a founder of the American Jewish Committee
American Jewish Committee
The American Jewish Committee was "founded in 1906 with the aim of rallying all sections of American Jewry to defend the rights of Jews all over the world...
.