Hays, Arthur Garfield (1881-1954)

US lawyer and author. A controversial but much admired lawyer in his day, he was unusual in making several fortunes as a successful corporation lawyer while simultaneously fighting for many unpopular causes. During and after World War I, when anti-German feeling was high, he defended the commercial rights of Germany. Then in 1933 he took on perhaps his most unusual case when he went to Germany and assisted in the defense of the communist accused of setting fire to the Reichstag. He served as general counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union (1921-54), participating in the Scopes monkey trial (1925), the Sacco-Vanzetti defense (1927), and other controversial cases. The underlying motive of all his work was his hatred of suppression and his dedication to the freedom of all. His several books include Trial by Prejudice (1933). Hays was born in Rochester, New York.