J. Lee Rankin
| J. Lee Rankin | |
|---|---|
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| Born |
James Lee Rankin July 8, 1907 Hartington, Nebraska |
| Died | June 26, 1996 (aged 88) Santa Cruz, California |
| Known for | United States Solicitor General |
| Spouse(s) | Gertrude Rankin |
James Lee "Lee" Rankin (July 8, 1907 – June 26, 1996) was the 31st United States Solicitor General.
Rankin was born in Hartington, Nebraska, the son of Herman P. and Lois Gable Rankin. He attended public schools, and earned both his undergraduate and law degree from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. In 1930 Rankin was admitted to the bar in Nebraska and began the practice of law in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Known for his straightforward, quiet, and friendly demeanor, Rankin (known to his friends and colleagues as Lee), loved to tend roses, play the piccolo, and was an enthusiastic amateur photographer. In 1935, he became a partner and worked with the firm for over 20 years.
Rankin served as Solicitor General from 1956 to 1961. In 1952, Rankin managed the Dwight Eisenhower for President campaign in Nebraska and in 1953, Eisenhower selected Rankin to serve as United States Assistant Attorney General.
In 1953, he was appointed Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Office of Legal Counsel. In this capacity, Rankin may best be remembered for arguing in favor of the African-American plaintiffs in Brown v. Board of Education (1954), advocating that the doctrine of “separate-but-equal” facilities for blacks and whites was unconstitutional. After the Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown, Rankin argued in a presentation before the Court that the effort to desegregate schools should take place gradually in an effort to avoid any violence that might arise from the decision. Accordingly, he suggested the plan by which local school districts submitted desegregation plans to federal judges in their states. In addition, Rankin argued a great range of other important cases before the Supreme Court. He was instrumental in resolving conflicting claims among Western states to the Colorado River, and in establishing a balance of federal and state jurisdictions in offshore oil drilling.
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