Interview with the honorable Thomas P. Brady : associate justice, Mississippi Supreme Court

              Interview with the Honorable Thomas P. Brady : associate justice, Mississippi Supreme Court
This oral history is provided through a cooperative project of University of Southern Mississippi Libraries and USM's Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage.
Funding provided by a National Leadership Grant for Libraries from the Institute for Museum and Library Services
The transcript is presented here for reference purposes only. Interviews in this collection are protected by copyright. PERMISSION TO PUBLISH MUST BE REQUESTED from the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage. Please call ( 601) 266- 4574 for more information.
Biography
Thomas Pickens Brady was born on August 6, 1903, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was educated in the public schools and graduated from Brookhaven High School in 1920. He attended the Lawrenceville Preparatory School, New Jersey, and graduated in 1923. He graduated with the Baccalaureate degree from Yale University in 1927. He later received the L. L. B. degree from the University of Mississippi Law School in 1930.
Thomas Brady practiced law in Brookhaven, Mississippi from 1930 to 1950. He served as Circuit Judge of the 14th Judicial District from 1950 to 1963. He was appointed to the Mississippi Supreme Court in July, 1963, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Associate Justice R. Olney Arrington. He was elected without opposition to fill the unexpired term. He was re- elected to a full term commencing January, 1969.
Judge Brady has been active in various professional and other organizations. He served as a Democratic National Committeeman from 1960 to 1964. He is the recipient of the 1956 Mississippi Legislature's distinguished service citation. He is a member of the American and State Bar Associations and the American Judicature Society. He is a member of many honorary and fraternal organizations and is a 32nd Degree Mason, Knight Templar and Shriner.
Abstract
In this interview Judge Brady discusses his early days in Brookhaven, Mississippi. He recalls that his first interest in state politics resulted from a speech delivered by Paul B. Johnson in 1932 and discusses the five Democratic National Conventions he has attended. Of particular importance is the period from 1960 to 1964, when he served as a Democratic National Committeeman. He gives his views of unpledged delegations and party control as well as the Dixiecrat and States' Rights movements and recalls his personal role in their activities. Judge Brady relates his views on the relationship between the central, state, and local governments in the American Federal System and expresses the belief that if the responsibility of the local or state government is not exercised, then the central government must and
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