Louis H. Pollak
Encyclopedia
Louis Heilprin Pollak is a senior district judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
.
on June 7, 1978. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on July 10, and began serving on July 12, 1978, occupying the seat vacated by Judge A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr.
Judge Pollak assumed senior status in 1991, and remains an active member of the court. In addition to his district court duties, Pollak sits by designation regularly with the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and is often invited to sit by designation with the Ninth Circuit.
A number of Pollak's former law clerks have gone on to clerk on the Supreme Court of the United States. They have worked for Chief Justices Burger and Rehnquist as well as Justices Brennan, Blackmun, Breyer, Stevens, Powell, Ginsburg, O'Connor, and Scalia.
in 1943, magna cum laude, and his LL.B. from the Yale Law School
in 1948, where he was editor of the Law Review.
After completing his undergraduate studies at Harvard, Pollak entered the United States Army
in 1943, during World War II. The war ended before he would be deployed outside of the United States.
Pollak served as a law clerk to Justice Wiley Rutledge of the United States Supreme Court following graduation from law school. After completing his clerkship, from 1949 to 1951, Pollak worked at the law firm now known as Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
. He then served in the United States Department of State
as special assistant to Ambassador-at-large Philip C. Jessup until 1953. Thereafter, Pollak worked as assistant counsel for the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America
.
In 1955, Pollak joined the faculty of the Yale Law School
, where he would remain until 1974. He served as dean from 1965 to 1970. In 1974, he moved to the University of Pennsylvania Law School
, becoming dean the following year. In 1978, he left the University when he was appointed to the bench. Pollak is still an adjunct member of the Penn Law faculty and teaches there regularly.
Beginning in 1950, Pollak provided assistance to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. He worked actively on Brown v. Board of Education
. Because he was then working for the State Department, he was not listed on the briefs in the Supreme Court.
Pollak's father, Walter Pollak, was also a well-known lawyer. He is now remembered especially for his work in major civil rights cases, including Gitlow v. New York
and representation of the Scottsboro Boys
.
Since 1952, Pollak has been married to Katherine Weiss, the daughter of Louis S. Weiss
, a founding partner of the Paul, Weiss law firm. They have five daughters and eight grandchildren.
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is one of the original 13 federal judiciary districts created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
.
District Judge
Pollak was nominated to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by President Jimmy CarterJimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
on June 7, 1978. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on July 10, and began serving on July 12, 1978, occupying the seat vacated by Judge A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr.
Judge Pollak assumed senior status in 1991, and remains an active member of the court. In addition to his district court duties, Pollak sits by designation regularly with the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and is often invited to sit by designation with the Ninth Circuit.
A number of Pollak's former law clerks have gone on to clerk on the Supreme Court of the United States. They have worked for Chief Justices Burger and Rehnquist as well as Justices Brennan, Blackmun, Breyer, Stevens, Powell, Ginsburg, O'Connor, and Scalia.
Biography
Judge Pollak received his B.A. from Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1943, magna cum laude, and his LL.B. from the Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
in 1948, where he was editor of the Law Review.
After completing his undergraduate studies at Harvard, Pollak entered the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1943, during World War II. The war ended before he would be deployed outside of the United States.
Pollak served as a law clerk to Justice Wiley Rutledge of the United States Supreme Court following graduation from law school. After completing his clerkship, from 1949 to 1951, Pollak worked at the law firm now known as Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is a law firm headquartered on Sixth Avenue in New York City. The firm has well-noted expertise in its corporate, personal representation, entertainment law and litigation practices, having long been a leader among national litigation firms...
. He then served in the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
as special assistant to Ambassador-at-large Philip C. Jessup until 1953. Thereafter, Pollak worked as assistant counsel for the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America
Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America
The Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America was a United States labor union known for its support for "social unionism" and progressive political causes. Led by Sidney Hillman for its first thirty years, it helped found the Congress of Industrial Organizations...
.
In 1955, Pollak joined the faculty of the Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
, where he would remain until 1974. He served as dean from 1965 to 1970. In 1974, he moved to 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,...
, becoming dean the following year. In 1978, he left the University when he was appointed to the bench. Pollak is still an adjunct member of the Penn Law faculty and teaches there regularly.
Beginning in 1950, Pollak provided assistance to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. He worked actively on Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 , was a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. The decision overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896 which...
. Because he was then working for the State Department, he was not listed on the briefs in the Supreme Court.
Pollak's father, Walter Pollak, was also a well-known lawyer. He is now remembered especially for his work in major civil rights cases, including Gitlow v. New York
Gitlow v. New York
Gitlow v. New York, , was a decision by the United States Supreme Court, which ruled that the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution had extended the reach of certain provisions of the First Amendment—specifically the provisions protecting freedom of speech and freedom of the...
and representation of the Scottsboro Boys
Scottsboro Boys
The Scottsboro Boys were nine black teenage boys accused of rape in Alabama in 1931. The landmark set of legal cases from this incident dealt with racism and the right to a fair trial...
.
Since 1952, Pollak has been married to Katherine Weiss, the daughter of Louis S. Weiss
Louis S. Weiss
Louis Stix Weiss was a name partner of the international law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, a firm that traces its roots to one founded by Louis's father Samuel W. Weiss in 1875...
, a founding partner of the Paul, Weiss law firm. They have five daughters and eight grandchildren.