Perry Hooper Sr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Perry Hooper Sr.
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| 27th Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court | |
| In office October 20, 1995 – January 15, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Ernest C. Hornsby |
| Succeeded by | Roy Moore |
| Circuit Judge, Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in Montgomery County, Alabama | |
| In office 1974–1983 |
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| Probate Judge, Montgomery County, Alabama | |
| In office 1965–1974 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Perry Oliver Hooper
April 8, 1925 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | April 24, 2016 (aged 91) Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Marilyn Yost Hooper |
| Children | Perry Hooper Jr. and 3 others |
| Parents | Ernest and Mary Lou Perry Hooper |
| Alma mater |
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| Occupation | Lawyer, judge |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Marine Corps |
Perry Oliver Hooper Sr. (April 8, 1925 – April 24, 2016) was an American judge. He served as the twenty-seventh Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court from 1995 to 2001.
He was the first Republican to be elected to Alabama's highest court since the time after the American Civil War.
Early Life and Career
Perry Hooper Sr. earned his law degree and then started working as a private lawyer. He was very active in the Republican Party in Alabama. At that time, the party was not very strong in the state.
In 1964, Hooper was elected as the probate judge for Montgomery County. A probate judge handles legal matters like wills and property. He was the first Republican to win this position in Montgomery County since the 1800s.
He served as probate judge until 1974. Then, he was elected as a judge for Alabama's 15th Judicial Circuit. In 1983, he returned to working as a private lawyer.
Running for the U.S. Senate
In 1968, Perry Hooper Sr. ran for the United States Senate. He was the Republican candidate for a seat that was becoming open. This seat was left by a retiring Democrat senator named Lister Hill.
In the main election, Hooper received many votes. However, he lost to the Democratic candidate, James B. Allen. Allen was a former Lieutenant Governor. Even though Hooper lost, he received more votes than his party's presidential candidate, Richard Nixon, in Alabama that year.
Hooper did best among people with higher incomes in cities like Montgomery and Birmingham. People with lower incomes mostly supported his opponent.
Becoming Chief Justice
In 1994, Hooper was elected Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. He won by a very small number of votes, only 262 votes. He was not officially sworn into office until October 20, 1995. This was almost nine months after his term was supposed to begin.
There was a legal dispute about the election results. The person he defeated, Ernest C. "Sonny" Hornsby, who was the sitting Chief Justice, did not want to leave office. A lawsuit was filed to try and keep Hornsby in his position. This case was eventually settled, allowing Hooper to take his place.
After he took his oath, Hooper served as Chief Justice until 2001. When he retired, another Republican, Roy Moore, took over the position.
Family Life
Perry Hooper Sr. lived in Montgomery, Alabama, with his wife. They had four children together.
His son, Perry Hooper Jr., also became involved in politics. He was a Republican member of the Alabama House of Representatives.
Perry Hooper Sr. passed away at his home on April 24, 2016. He was 91 years old.
