Interview with former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Otis Milton Smith

Michigan Supreme Court Justice Otis M. Smith talks about growing up in Memphis, Tenn, his family history, working multiple jobs to pay for college, serving in the U.S. military during World War II, entering law school after the war, and his early professional jobs. Smith says that from a very early age he was filled with a burning desire to succeed in life and to make his mark. Smith also discusses the judicial selection process, his own appointment to the Michigan Supreme Court, the geographic makeup of the Court during his tenure, selection of a Chief Justice, and the interaction of the Justices. He then goes on to discuss his colleagues, including Justices Gene Black, Harry Kelly, John Dethmers, George Edwards, Theodore Souris, Thomas Kavanagh, Michael O'Hara and Paul Adams. Smith speaks eloquently of the serious nature of conducting Court business and discusses his own decision making style, and the issues he dealt with in cases such as Scholle versus Hare, the People versus Lochricco, and the Fenestra, Mallory, and Pittsfield Township cases.

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In Collections: Interviews with Michigan State Supreme Court Justices

Copyright Status: In Copyright

Date Created: 1990-10-23

Interviewees: Smith, Otis Milton, 1922-1994

Interviewers: Lane, Roger F.

Sponsors: Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society

Subjects: Smith, Otis Milton, 1922-1994
Michigan. Supreme Court
United States. Air Force Reserve
Apportionment (Election law)
Armed Forces--Military life
Employees
Friendship
Judges
Judges--Selection and appointment
Judicial process
Michigan

Material Type: Sound recordings
Interviews

Language: English

Extent: 04:26:51

Note: Image courtesy of the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society.
Digital remastering of analog cassettes originally recorded for "Interviews with Michigan Supreme Court Justices," sponsored by the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society.

Historical Note: See the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society website for more information on the life of Otis Milton Smith.

Holding Institution: Vincent Voice Library

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1 of 6: Interview with former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Otis Milton Smith. Part 1

Extent: 00:47:27

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2 of 6: Interview with former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Otis Milton Smith. Part 2

Extent: 00:47:21

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3 of 6: Interview with former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Otis Milton Smith. Part 3

Extent: 00:47:22

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4 of 6: Interview with former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Otis Milton Smith. Part 4

Extent: 00:47:23

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5 of 6: Interview with former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Otis Milton Smith. Part 5

Extent: 00:47:24

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6 of 6: Interview with former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Otis Milton Smith. Part 6

Extent: 00:29:52

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Interview with former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Otis Milton Smith. Part 1

Interview with former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Otis Milton Smith. Part 2

Interview with former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Otis Milton Smith. Part 3

Interview with former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Otis Milton Smith. Part 4

Interview with former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Otis Milton Smith. Part 5

Interview with former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Otis Milton Smith. Part 6

Interview with former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Otis Milton Smith

Transcript