George Edward Chalmer Hayes
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George Edward Chalmers Hayes (July 1, 1894 – December 20, 1968) was a Washington, DC lawyer who defended Annie Lee Moss, was the lead attorney in Bolling v. Sharpe, and later became the first African American to serve on the District of Columbia Public Utilities Commission.
He was born in Richmond, Virginia and graduated from Brown University in 1915, and then earned a law degree from Howard University School of Law in 1918. He taught at Howard University School of Law starting in 1924 while he maintained a private practice in the District of Columbia. With Spottswood William Robinson III, he was the lead counsel on Bolling v. Sharpe, the companion case to Brown v. Board of Education. Hayes argued that denying Black students the liberty to attend non-segregated schools violated due process. Bolling was decided under the Fifth Amendment's due process clause while Brown was decided under the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause.
[edit] References
- Washington Post; March 22, 1954; "... Annie Moss and her attorney, a Negro lawyer named George E.C. Hayes, did not accept this brushoff without protest. Hayes wrote each member of the subcommittee, noting that the Army has suspended her from her job. The Washington Daily News took up her case. While McCarthy was in Florida two weeks ago, the subcommittee agreed to give her the chance to defend herself. ..."
- Washington Post; June 21, 1954; "Dinner Will Honor George E.C. Hayes. Attorney George E.C. Hayes will be honored at the third annual testimonial dinner of the Jesse Mitchell Club Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Pall Mall Room of the Raleigh Hotel."
- New York Times; February 13, 1955; "Negro Nominated for Job in Capital; Hayes, Defender of Mrs. Moss in Security Hearing, Gets District Utilities Post."
- New York Times; December 21, 1968; "George Hayes, 74, A Rights Lawyer; Argued School Segregation Case Before High Court."
- Washington Post; December 24, 1968; "George E.C. Hayes"
