Joseph Cornelius Waddy facts for kids

Joseph Cornelius Waddy (born May 26, 1911 – died August 1, 1978) was an important judge in the United States. He served as a federal judge for the District of Columbia. This means he worked for the U.S. government in a special court in Washington, D.C.

Early Life and Education

Joseph Waddy was born in Louisa County, Virginia, in 1911. When he was 17, in 1928, his family moved to Alexandria, Virginia. Later, they moved to Washington, D.C..

A Champion for Rights

In 1938, Joseph Waddy won a speech contest. He spoke about the constitutional rights of African Americans. This contest was sponsored by a group called the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World.

School Days

He went to Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C. In 1935, he graduated with honors from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. After that, he studied law for three more years. He graduated at the top of his class from Howard University School of Law. He earned a Bachelor of Laws degree.

Family Life

Joseph Waddy married Elizabeth H. Hardy. They had one son, Joseph C. Waddy Jr.

Joseph Waddy's Career

After finishing law school, Joseph Waddy passed the bar exam in Washington, D.C. This allowed him to practice law.

Working for Civil Rights

He started his own law practice in 1939. He worked with Charles Hamilton Houston, a famous lawyer. Houston was known for fighting for civil rights. Waddy worked in private practice in Washington, D.C., until 1962.

Serving His Country

From 1944 to 1946, Joseph Waddy took a break from law. He served in the United States Army during World War II. He rose to the rank of staff sergeant. After the war, he returned to his law firm. It was then called Houston, Waddy, Bryant and Gardner.

Important Legal Cases

Joseph Waddy helped with very important civil rights cases. Two of these were Steele v. Louisville & Nashville Railroad Co. (1944) and Conley v. Gibson (1957). These cases helped protect the rights of workers.

Community and Teaching Roles

From 1958 to 1962, Waddy advised the District of Columbia Commissioners. These were leaders of the city government. He also taught law at Howard University School of Law from 1966 to 1967. In 1962, he became a judge for the municipal court in D.C. He worked in the domestic relations branch, which handles family cases.

Becoming a Federal Judge

On January 16, 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson chose Joseph Waddy to be a federal judge. He would serve on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The United States Senate approved his appointment on March 2, 1967. He officially became a judge on March 4, 1967. He served as a judge until his death on August 1, 1978.

A Landmark Case for Students

Judge Waddy oversaw a very important case called Mills v. Board of Education of District of Columbia. This case was about children with disabilities. His decision said that schools could not stop disabled children from getting a public education. This ruling, along with another case, helped lead to a major law. This law is now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It makes sure that all children with disabilities have the right to a free and proper public education.

Working for Better Laws

Starting in 1971, Judge Waddy also served as a Commissioner. He worked for the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. This group helps create similar laws across different states.

Death

Joseph Waddy passed away on August 1, 1978. He was at the Washington Hospital Center. He died from lung and heart problems.

See also

• List of African-American jurists

Sources

• Joseph Cornelius Waddy at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.