Loyd Wright
Encyclopedia
Loyd Wright was an American attorney and lifetime Californian, who represented a number of movie stars, served as president of the State Bar of California
, the American Bar Association
and the International Bar Association
and was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate
from California.
on December 24, 1892. He attended the University of Southern California
and secured a Bachelor of Laws degree from its law school in 1915. He began the practice of law, which he would remain in for fifty-five years, in Los Angeles
.
Wright became known for his representation of movie actors. He represented Mary Pickford
in her divorce suit against Douglas Fairbanks Sr.. He also represented Charlie Chaplin
, Jack Benny
, Mae West
and D.W. Griffith. From 1921 to 1936, Wright lectured at U.S.C.'s law school.
in her divorce suit against Ronald Reagan
, though Wyman asked Wright to accept $5,000 in settlement of his $7,500 bill.
During World War II, Wright attended the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and then was appointed by the Justice Department as a member of the Board of Appeals in enemy alien hearings.
In 1955, Wright was asked by his friend, Vice President Richard Nixon
, to serve as a chairman of the Commission on Government Security. He did, and the Committee recommended a thorough overhaul of government defenses against subversion. Wright served for ten years from 1954 as president of the International Bar Association.
as his campaign manager and ran for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination, but was handily defeated by incumbent Thomas H. Kuchel.
On October 22, 1974, Wright died in Hemet, California
.
State Bar of California
The State Bar of California is California's official bar association. It is responsible for managing the admission of lawyers to the practice of law, investigating complaints of professional misconduct, and prescribing appropriate discipline...
, the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
and the International Bar Association
International Bar Association
The International Bar Association is an international association of lawyers and lawyers' associations. The IBA's stated purpose is to promote an exchange of information between legal associations worldwide, support the independence of the judiciary and the right of lawyers to practice their...
and was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for 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...
from California.
Early life and legal career
Wright was born in San Jacinto, CaliforniaSan Jacinto, California
San Jacinto is a city in Riverside County, California, U.S.A. It was named after Saint Hyacinth and is located at the north end of the San Jacinto Valley, with Hemet to its south. The mountains associated with the valley are the San Jacinto Mountains. The population was 44,199 at the 2010...
on December 24, 1892. He attended the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
and secured a Bachelor of Laws degree from its law school in 1915. He began the practice of law, which he would remain in for fifty-five years, in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Wright became known for his representation of movie actors. He represented Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford was a Canadian-born motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
in her divorce suit against Douglas Fairbanks Sr.. He also represented Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
, Jack Benny
Jack Benny
Jack Benny was an American comedian, vaudevillian, and actor for radio, television, and film...
, Mae West
Mae West
Mae West was an American actress, playwright, screenwriter and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned seven decades....
and D.W. Griffith. From 1921 to 1936, Wright lectured at U.S.C.'s law school.
Bar officer and commission member
Wright interested himself in bar affairs, and in 1937 became president of the Los Angeles Bar Association, in which capacity he served for a year. In 1940, he served a year as president of the State Bar of California, and in 1955, served a year as president of the American Bar Association. Wright continued the practice of law, representing Jane WymanJane Wyman
Jane Wyman was an American singer, dancer, and character actress of film and television. She began her film career in the 1930s, and was a prolific performer for two decades...
in her divorce suit against Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, though Wyman asked Wright to accept $5,000 in settlement of his $7,500 bill.
During World War II, Wright attended the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and then was appointed by the Justice Department as a member of the Board of Appeals in enemy alien hearings.
In 1955, Wright was asked by his friend, Vice President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
, to serve as a chairman of the Commission on Government Security. He did, and the Committee recommended a thorough overhaul of government defenses against subversion. Wright served for ten years from 1954 as president of the International Bar Association.
Political run and later life
In 1962, Wright hired Murray ChotinerMurray Chotiner
Murray M Chotiner was an American political strategist, attorney, government official, and close associate and friend of President Richard Nixon during much of the 37th President's political career...
as his campaign manager and ran for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination, but was handily defeated by incumbent Thomas H. Kuchel.
On October 22, 1974, Wright died in Hemet, California
Hemet, California
Hemet is a city in the San Jacinto Valley in Riverside County, California, United States. It covers a total area of , about half of the valley, which it shares with the neighboring city of San Jacinto. The population was 78,657 at the 2010 census....
.