James G. Butler facts for kids

James Girard Butler (born September 26, 1920 – died May 26, 2005) was an American lawyer. He was known for winning many big cases for people who were suing others. He won the first major case involving a medicine called thalidomide, which caused birth defects. Butler was also a leader in the civil rights movement and a collector of art. He was famous for being very good at speaking in court. He once told a jury, "If you do justice, you'll sock it to 'em!"

Early Life and Military Service

James Butler was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on September 26, 1920. His father worked as a postman on a train that carried mail.

Butler went to Saint Peter's College in Jersey City and earned his first college degree. In 1943, he joined the Marine Corps. He became a fighter plane pilot during World War II in the Pacific Ocean area. Butler received several awards for being brave and skilled as a pilot. These awards included the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal.

While serving, Butler got sick with malaria. A Marine nurse, Eugenia Louise Jefferson, helped him get better. They got married in 1945. After the war, Butler studied law at Georgetown University Law Center and finished in 1947.

Career as a Lawyer

As a lawyer, James Butler became well-known for handling cases about unsafe medicines. In 1971, he won a large amount of money for people affected by thalidomide. This medicine caused serious birth defects. The company that tested thalidomide had to pay. After this first case, Butler worked on about 20 more thalidomide cases.

He also worked on other important cases. These included lawsuits after the crash of Turkish Airlines Flight 981 in Paris in 1974. He also helped people affected by the hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi, Pakistan.

Helping with Civil Rights

Butler was also very involved in the civil rights movement. This movement worked to make sure all people had equal rights. In 1955, when he was 35, Butler became the first vice president of the NAACP in Compton. The NAACP is an important organization that fights for civil rights.

Some people on the City Council were not happy about his involvement. They even tried to remove him from his job, but they did not succeed. Butler stayed involved with the Compton NAACP until 1958. He then moved to a different neighborhood in Los Angeles. He lived in that home until he passed away in 2005.

Personal Life and Hobbies

James Butler was a big art collector. His collection included works by famous artists like James Lee Byars and Andy Warhol. His law office had eight Andy Warhol prints of Marilyn Monroe.

Butler was married two times. His first marriage to Eugenia Butler ended in 1970. His second marriage was to artist Morgan Thomas. He had nine children and four grandchildren. Butler and his wife raised their children to care about important social issues. Their home was known for being open to many different people, including friends from the art world and people with different political views. They often had parties with loud Caribbean music.

Butler also collected dictionaries.

Later Years

James Butler passed away peacefully in his sleep from cancer on May 26, 2005. He was 84 years old.