Historical Profile: Louis Dembitz Brandeis


Boston, MA. – Louis Dembitz Brandeis (November 13, 1856 – October 5, 1941) was born in Louisville, Kentucky.  Brandeis attended Harvard Law School where he graduated as the class Valedictorian.  At the time of his graduation, Brandeis had maintained the highest grade point average in school history.  Later, Brandeis became the first Jewish person to be selected as a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.  Brandeis was nominated by President Woodrow Wilson and he served on the Supreme Court from 1916 – 1939.  Brandeis’ legal work focused on advocating for working class citizens.  He lobbied against the abuse of corporate power, monopolies, and government corruption.  Brandeis was a founding member of the Massachusetts Bar Association.


His notable legal opinions include: Gilbert v. Minnesota (1920) – Freedom of speech; Olmstead v. United States (1928) – Right of privacy; Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins (1938) – Federal versus state laws.


In his 1911 book, The Opportunity in the Law, Brandeis writes: “The public is often inadequately represented or wholly unrepresented.  That presents a condition of great unfairness to the public.  As a result, many bills pass in our legislatures which would not have become law if the public interest had been fairly represented.  Those of you who feel drawn to that profession may rest assured that you will find in it an opportunity for usefulness probably unequaled.  There is a call upon the legal profession to do a great work for this country.”


For his years of legal and social advocacy work, Brandeis was recognized with several accolades: In September 2009, the United States Postal Service selected Brandeis’ image to be placed on a commemorative stamp.  Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts and the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville are named in honor of Brandeis.  There is a statue of Brandeis located in the Massachusetts State House outside of the House of Representatives Chambers. 

Louis D. Brandeis statue at the Massachusetts State House.

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