George Anastaplo

George Anastaplo (November 7, 1925 – February 14, 2014) was a professor at Loyola University Chicago School of Law and author who was famously denied admission for many years to the Illinois Bar. The denial of his admission became a Supreme Court case, In re Anastaplo, in which he insisted that the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects the privacy of political affiliations, specifically, his refusal to answer questions about membership in the Communist Party. Anastaplo's stand was based on constitutional principles and his consequent rejection of McCarthyism, and nobody alleged that he had been a member of the Communist Party. The Supreme Court's majority upheld the lower courts' ruling in favor of the Illinois Bar, with Justice Hugo Black dissenting. After his Supreme Court case and denial of admission to the Bar, Anastaplo supported his family by teaching at the University of Chicago and other universities and colleges. He wrote many articles and books on philosophy, many of which acknowledged the influence of his teacher, Leo Strauss.

Early life

The son of Greek immigrants, Anastaplo served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II as a navigator of B-17s and B-29s. Even while a law student, Anastaplo attended the lectures and seminars of Leo Strauss.

Illinois Bar Exam

After he had passed the Bar Exam, Anastaplo was asked a series of questions typical during the age of the Red Scare. He was asked whether members of the Communist Party should be allowed to enter the Bar and so be able to practice law, to which he replied yes. (Footnotes removed)

Upon reading Black's dissent, Justice William J. Brennan said that it would "immortalize Anastaplo." Black's dissent was read at Black's funeral, by his instructions.

Aftermath

Although he had lost the case, he became a figure of American liberty everywhere. He was described as the "Socrates of Chicago". He spoke all around the country about the importance of liberties. He taught liberal arts courses for nearly sixty years at the University of Chicago's Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies. He also taught at Rosary College and the University of Dallas. He eventually became a professor at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. He also authored books that outline his experience and the impact it had. Harry Jaffa Sidney Hook, Philosopher who corresponded with Anastaplo on due process and Communists