Date of Birth: February 6, 1923
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Date of Death: January 29, 2000
Biography
Harold H. Greene was an influential American judge best known for presiding over the historic antitrust case that led to the breakup of the AT&T monopoly in the early 1980s. Born in Germany, Greene emigrated to the United States and built a distinguished career in law and public service. His judicial decisions played a pivotal role in shaping modern telecommunications and antitrust law in the United States. Harold H. Greene was born Heinz Grünhaus in Frankfurt, Germany. He and his family fled the Nazis, eventually settling in the United States. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Greene attended George Washington University, where he earned both his undergraduate and law degrees. Greene’s legal career began in the U.S. Department of Justice, where he worked on civil rights legislation during the 1960s, helping to draft the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In 1978, Greene was appointed to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia by President Jimmy Carter, a position he held until his death.
5 Interesting Facts about Harold H. Greene
1. Harold H. Greene was instrumental in drafting key civil rights legislation during the 1960s.
2. He presided over the landmark United States v. AT&T antitrust case, which resulted in the breakup of the Bell System.
3. Greene fled Nazi Germany with his family and immigrated to the United States at the age of 16.
4. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and participated in the Battle of the Bulge.
5. Greene was appointed to the federal bench by President Jimmy Carter in 1978.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Harold H. Greene
1. “The judiciary must not take on the coloration of whatever may be popular at the moment.”
2. “A judge’s role is to interpret the law, not to make it.”
3. “The breakup of AT&T was necessary to foster competition and innovation in telecommunications.”
4. “Civil rights laws are the foundation of a just and equitable society.”
5. “The strength of our legal system is its ability to adapt and evolve.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Harold H. Greene’s net worth was not publicly disclosed during his lifetime. As a federal judge, his earnings were consistent with the judicial salary scales of his era.
Children
Harold H. Greene had two children, a son named Carl and a daughter named Deborah.
Relevant Links
1. [Profile on Federal Judicial Center](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/greene-harold-h
4. [Biography on Oyez](https://www.oyez.org/justices/harold_h_greene
5. [Civil Rights Impact](https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-act