Horace Elmo Nichols

Personal life Nichols was born in Elkmont, Alabama, to Mr. and Mrs. William Henry Nichols. He attended public school in Birmingham. His early training in piano and voice resulted in a lifelong love of music.

He married Edith Mae Bowers in October 1945. They had two daughters and a son. Mrs. Nichols died in May 1984.

Education He received his Bachelor of Law degree from the Cumberland School of Law while it was part of Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tennessee. He later studied constitutional law at Columbia University. After the Constitution refused to publish information the Judge wanted added, he found Ralph McGill and William Fields in contempt of court and sentenced each to 20 days in jail plus a two hundred dollar fine. McGill was a nationally prominent editor and the story was carried by Time magazine. The contempt citation was reversed by the Supreme Court of Georgia in January 1953. He continued as Superior Court Judge until January 15, 1954, when Governor Herman E. Talmadge appointed him to the Court of Appeals of Georgia. In 1975 Nichols became Chief Justice and served until retiring in December 1980. In 1982 he became one of a group of fourteen prominent people who helped establish and founded the Georgia State University College of Law offering an American Bar Association accredited evening curriculum. He died in Atlanta on June 8, 2000, after having suffered a stroke.

Clubs and organizations Judge Nichols was a member of the Piedmont Driving Club, the Capital City Club, the Coosa Country Club, Gridiron Secret Society, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and Woodmen of the World.

Legacy He was known for his support of the death penalty, but his most lasting legacy was the elevation of the Georgia judiciary to a higher level of professionalism and respect. Upon becoming Chief Justice, he insisted on the judiciary receiving the same respect as the executive and legislative branches of government. His development of a unified appeal process in death penalty cases helped to eliminate delays in executing sentences. He allowed both cameras and tape recorders in the courtroom so that the public could have a better understanding of the work of the judiciary.