Louie L. Wainwright
Encyclopedia
Louie L. Wainwright was Secretary of the Florida
Division of Corrections from 1962 to 1987, more than a quarter of a century. He is most famous for being the named respondent
in two U.S. Supreme Court
cases: Gideon v. Wainwright
in which indigents are guaranteed an attorney, and Ford v. Wainwright
, in which the Court approved the common law
rule prohibiting the execution of the insane. Time Magazine called the Gideon decision one of the ten most important legal events of the 1960s. He also appeared as the respondent in a number of habeas corpus
petitions that reached the Supreme Court level during his long tenure in office, making "Wainwright" one of the most familiar names to students of habeas corpus
law.
Wainwright received a masters degree in criminal justice from Nova Southeastern University
, later serving as a temporary faculty member there. He was then acknowledged as Dean of American Correctional Administrators. Wainwright was appointed as Secretary of the Florida Division of Corrections by Cecil Farris Bryant (Florida Governor at that time) in 1962, replacing H. G. Cochran
and remained in the position until 1987, when Richard L. Dugger
assumed the role.
Wainwright served under six governors: Bryant, Haydon Burns, Claude Roy Kirk, Jr., Reubin O'Donovan Askew
, Bob Graham
and Wayne Mixson
.
He has received the American Correctional Association's highest tribute, the E.R. Cass Award for outstanding service and his efforts in support of accreditation in Florida and nationwide earned him the 1986 Accreditation Achievement Award from the Commission of Accreditation for Corrections. Wainwright was appointed to the Corrections Foundation Board in 2001 and re-appointed as President in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
He also served as President of the Florida Peace Officer's Association from 1965–1966, where he is still a prominent and respected member.
He once was the Superintendent of Avon Park Correctional Institution. His post, Secretary of the Florida Division of Corrections, replaced the post of Director of the Division of Corrections.
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
Division of Corrections from 1962 to 1987, more than a quarter of a century. He is most famous for being the named respondent
Respondent
A respondent is a person who is called upon to issue a response to a communication made by another. In legal usage, this specifically refers to the defendant in a legal proceeding commenced by a petition, or to an appellee, or the opposing party, in an appeal of a decision by an initial fact-finder...
in two U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
cases: Gideon v. Wainwright
Gideon v. Wainwright
Gideon v. Wainwright, , is a landmark case in United States Supreme Court history. In the case, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that state courts are required under the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution to provide counsel in criminal cases for defendants who are unable to afford their own...
in which indigents are guaranteed an attorney, and Ford v. Wainwright
Ford v. Wainwright
Ford v. Wainwright, ', was the case in which the United States Supreme Court upheld the common law rule that the insane cannot be executed; therefore the petitioner is entitled to a competency evaluation and to an evidentiary hearing in court on the question of his competency to be...
, in which the Court approved the common law
Common law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
rule prohibiting the execution of the insane. Time Magazine called the Gideon decision one of the ten most important legal events of the 1960s. He also appeared as the respondent in a number of habeas corpus
Habeas corpus
is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations...
petitions that reached the Supreme Court level during his long tenure in office, making "Wainwright" one of the most familiar names to students of habeas corpus
Habeas corpus
is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations...
law.
Wainwright received a masters degree in criminal justice from Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University, commonly referred to as NSU or Nova, is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian, research university located in Broward County, Florida, with its main campus in the town of Davie...
, later serving as a temporary faculty member there. He was then acknowledged as Dean of American Correctional Administrators. Wainwright was appointed as Secretary of the Florida Division of Corrections by Cecil Farris Bryant (Florida Governor at that time) in 1962, replacing H. G. Cochran
H. G. Cochran
H.G. Cochran Florida Director of the Division of Corrections from 1959 to 1962. He replaced R.O. Culver and was replaced by Louie L...
and remained in the position until 1987, when Richard L. Dugger
Richard L. Dugger
Richard L. Dugger was Secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections from 1987 to 1991, when Harry K. Singletary, Jr. took over.Dugger was warden of Florida State Prison from 1982 to 1987, when he was appointed Secretary of the Department of Corrections by then Florida Governor Bob Martinez...
assumed the role.
Wainwright served under six governors: Bryant, Haydon Burns, Claude Roy Kirk, Jr., Reubin O'Donovan Askew
Reubin O'Donovan Askew
Reubin O'Donovan Askew is an American politician, who served as the 37th Governor of the U.S. state of Florida from 1971 to 1979.-Early life and career:...
, Bob Graham
Bob Graham
Daniel Robert "Bob" Graham is an American politician. He was the 38th Governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987 and a United States Senator from that state from 1987 to 2005...
and Wayne Mixson
Wayne Mixson
John Wayne Mixson, better known as Wayne Mixson was the 39th Governor of the U.S. state of Florida. He assumed the office in January 1987 after Bob Graham stepped down to take his seat in the United States Senate, and served only three days until the governor-elect, Bob Martinez, was sworn in...
.
He has received the American Correctional Association's highest tribute, the E.R. Cass Award for outstanding service and his efforts in support of accreditation in Florida and nationwide earned him the 1986 Accreditation Achievement Award from the Commission of Accreditation for Corrections. Wainwright was appointed to the Corrections Foundation Board in 2001 and re-appointed as President in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
He also served as President of the Florida Peace Officer's Association from 1965–1966, where he is still a prominent and respected member.
He once was the Superintendent of Avon Park Correctional Institution. His post, Secretary of the Florida Division of Corrections, replaced the post of Director of the Division of Corrections.