Background

Thornton, J. Edward was born on November 25, 1907 in Starkville, Mississippi, United States. Son of Marmaduke Kimbrough and Annie (Knox) Thornton.

Education

Bachelor of Arts, Mississippi College, 1928; Bachelor of Laws, Harvard, U., 1933.

Career

Assistant prosecutor, Jefferson County, 1936-1939; assistant general counsel, Alabama Department Revenue, 1939-1942; member firm, Thornton & McGowin, Mobile. Member Special Supreme Court Alabama, 1967-1968, Alabama Court of Judiciary, 1984, 87,Judicial Conference 5th Circuit United States, 1951-1978. Member of advisory commission on proposed new appellate rules Alabama Supreme Court, 1972-1974, member standing commission on appellate rules, 1974-1980.

Chairman of the section on practice and procedure Alabama State Bar, 1969-1972, 73-75.

Achievements

• Bar: Alabama bar 1934, Massachusetts bar 1936.

Works

• Other Work

  • Contributor articles to professor publications.

Politics

Baptist churches should celebrate the racial, cultural and theological diversity witnessed within its membership.

Views

Language of a derogatory nature (with regard to race, nationality, ethnic background, gender, sexuality, and physical differences) does not reflect value for one another and contradicts the Christian teaching.

Membership

President Mobile Chamber Music Society, 1972-1973. Advisory council home health services Mobile County Board Health, 1969-1974. Member Alabama Democratic Committee, 1950-1954.

Lieutenant Commander United States Naval Reserve, 1942-1945. Fellow American Bar Foundation. Member American Bar Association (house delegations, state delegate for Alabama 1958-1959), Alabama Bar Association (chairman committee on jurisprudence and law reform 1951-1963, president 1963-1964), Mobile Bar Association (president 1955, founder, editor Mobile Bar Bulletin 1966-1991), Selden Society, American Law Institute, Alabama Law Institute, Mobile Arts Council (president 1956), English Speaking Union (president Mobile 1960-1961), Mobile Opera Guild (president 1963-1965), Mobile Chamber of Commerce, Scribes.

Clubs: Athelstan, Bienville (director), International Trade.

Connections

Married Mary Belle Quinn.

father:

Marmaduke Kimbrough Thornton

mother:

Annie (Knox) Thornton

spouse:

Mary Belle Quinn.