Gale Encyclopedia of American Law Volume 2 P46 fully illuminates today's leading cases, major statutes, legal terms and concepts, notable persons involved with the law, important documents and more. Legal issues are fully discussed in easy-to-understand language, including such high-profile topics as the Americans with Disabilities Act, capital punishment, domestic violence, gay and lesbian rights, physician-assisted suicide and thousands more. | 438 CLARKE JOHN HESSIN John Hessin Clarke. COLLECTION OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES. and became known for his liberal positions on many issues. A Progressive Era Democrat he joined with Justice louis d. brandeis on many votes. He also wrote the Court s opinion in ABRAMS V. UNITED STATES 250 . 616 40 S. Ct. 17 63 L. Ed. 1173 1919 in which the Court upheld the conviction of several radicals accused of fomenting unrest and in the process helped define the Court s position on free speech issues for decades to come. Clarke was born in Lisbon ohio on September 18 1857. His father John Clarke Sr. was an irish Protestant who immigrated to Lisbon in 1830 and became a successful lawyer and judge. Clarke attended Western Reserve College in Hudson ohio graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1877 and receiving a master of arts degree in 1880. After college Clarke returned to Lisbon to study law under his father s tutelage. He passed the bar with honors in 1878 and practiced briefly in his father s firm. At age twenty-three he moved to the nearby city of Youngstown and opened his own corporate law firm. He soon gained a reputation as an excellent lawyer and developed an impressive list of clients. Clarke also became an active citizen of Youngstown. He bought an interest in the local Democratic newspaper the Vindicator and used it to promote progressive political reform including national civil service reform and free public libraries. He was an active participant and speaker in a local literary society. Clarke did not marry. in 1897 after spending seventeen years in Youngstown Clarke moved to Cleveland where he joined the firm of Williamson and Cushing. His clients there included the Erie Railroad the Nickel Plate Railroad and the Pullman Company maker of railcars. in Cleveland Clarke continued to advocate progressive political reform sometimes conflicting with the interests of his clients. He became part of the circle of Tom L. Johnson Cleveland s Democratic mayor from .
