Julius B Ness | |
---|---|
Chief Justice of South Carolina | |
In office June 18, 1985 – February 1988 |
|
Preceded by | C. Bruce Littlejohn |
Succeeded by | George Gregory, Jr. |
Associate Justice of South Carolina | |
In office December 5, 1974 – June 18, 1985 |
|
Preceded by | James M. Brailsford, Jr. |
Succeeded by | Ernest A. Finney, Jr. |
Personal details | |
Born |
Manning, South Carolina |
February 27, 1916
Died | November 12, 1991 Bamberg, South Carolina |
(aged 75)
Spouse(s) | Katherine Ness (née Rhoad) (m. 1946) |
Children | Gail Richardson (née Ness) Richard Benjamin Ness |
Alma mater |
University of South Carolina University of South Carolina School of Law |
Religion | Methodist |
Julius Ness was the Resident Circuit Judge for the Second Judicial Circuit of South Carolina. He was born in Manning, South Carolina, USA, the eldest of five children of Morris and Rae Levy Ness, on February 27, 1916. His family moved to Denmark, South Carolina, when he was a young boy, and his mother and father lived there until their deaths. He had two brothers, Harold and Arthur, and two sisters, Sylvia and Rita. His friends and family knew him as "Bubba", a name given him by one of his younger sisters because she could not pronounce Julius.
Ness graduated from Denmark High School, then the University of South Carolina. He graduated from academic school in 1938 and law school in 1940. Upon graduation from law school, he moved to Bamberg, South Carolina, where he lived until his death in 1991. Ness initially practiced with the late Senator J. Carl Kearse, at a salary of US$30 per month.
In 1941, Ness enlisted in the United States Armed Forces. He first attended flight school, but did not complete the training. Upon leaving flight school Ness, with lifelong-friend, W. E. "Pete" Brooker, joined the United States Army, where Ness earned the rank of Captain, in the 349th Infantry of the 88th Division. He was critically and permanently injured in 1944 while serving in the snow-covered mountains of Italy. Against orders his friend Pete went back onto the battlefield, and found and rescued Ness. When the surgeon inspected his wounds, Ness was told his leg would have to be amputated. At the prospect of losing his leg, Ness drew his Colt, Model 1911 or M1911, .45 caliber, semi-automatic sidearm and threatened that if he woke up without his leg, he would kill the doctor that took it. The doctors did not attempt the amputation, and after many months of recuperation, Ness went home to Bamberg. For his service, he was awarded the Bronze Star, Silver Star, and two Purple Heart medals. Ness went back to work with Senator Kearse, and the firm later became known as Kearse and Ness.