| Notes |
- HON. NASH R. BROYLES, associate justice of the State Court of Appeals of Georgia, who for many years prior to entering upon his present duties held-the office of city recorder of Atlanta, was born in this city, October 16, 1868, and is a son of the late Col. Edwin Nash Broyles, and a member of one of Atlanta's first families.
Nash R. Broyles graduated from the Atlanta public schools at the age of fifteen years, and entered the University of Georgia, at Athens, graduating from its literary department in 1888 and its law department in 1889. Immediately thereafter he became his father 's law partner, father and son practicing together under the firm style of Broyles & Son until the former's death in 1897, after which the son continued alone. In 1893 Nash R. Broyles was appointed United States Commissioner, by Judge William T. Newman, and held that position until 1899, when he was elected recorder of the City of Atlanta. This latter office he filled with signal ability, with the result that, by repeated re-elections, he served until November 14, 1914, when he resigned to accept the higher position which he now fills. Upon his re-election as recorder, by the people, after a hard fight waged against him by the disorderly element of Atlanta, a banquet in his honor was given, January 3, 1911, by the citizens of Atlanta. This notable affair was attended by the governor of the state, the justices of the Supreme and Appellate courts, the federal judiciary, the mayor, and the council of the city, and several hundred of Atlanta's most prominent citizens.
At the August primary, of 1914, Judge Broyles was overwhelmingly nominated to become one of the associate justices of the State Court of Appeals, which nomination was fully ratified at the polls on the 3d of November following. This promotion at the hands of the people was one which could not he construed otherwise than as a strong endorsement of the splendid record he had made as recorder and in other capacities. The oath as associate justice of the Court of Appeals was administered to him by Governor J. M.Slaton, November 14, 1914, and he is now one of the three judges who compose that distinguished body.
Nash R. Broyles was the first judge of the first Juvenile Court ever established in the South. He held this judgeship for many years, along with the office of city recorder of Atlanta, and it was chiefly due to his efforts that the Fulton County Reformatory for Juveniles was established.
His first entry into state politics was unique and spectacular. In 1912, just thirty days before the primary, he announced his candidacy for the Court of Appeals against Judge J. R. Pottle, an able jurist and a very strong man politically, and, without making any campaign, tied Judge Pottle and later, in the state convention, withdrew in his favor. This is the only known instance in the history of the state where a state-wide political contest resulted in a tie, where only two candidates were in the field.
Judge Broyles is a democrat, a member of the Episcopal Church, and belongs to the Chi Phi college fraternity. It is said that every man has a hobby. If Judge Broyles has one, it is the subject of law-enforcement. He earnestly believes this to be the most serious question in the United States today. He is deeply concerned at the increase of crime in the country, and never loses an opportunity to plead before his fellow-citizens for better law-enforcement. He has spoken with telling effect on this subject, without any reward, or the hope thereof, in all sections of Georgia. When the unfortunate and bloody riot occurred in Atlanta, in 1906, by his- firm and unyielding attitude on the bench, and his swift and severe punishment of the ringleaders of the outrage, while his life was being hourly threatened and an armed guard had to protect his home and family, day and night, he did more to stop the rioting and restore law and order than all the bayonets of the soldiers. ' His great aim in life has been to render equal and exact justice and with the technicalities of procedure he is often impatient, especially since these sometimes serve to protect the guilty; but he has always been rigid in probing for the facts and fearlessness as a judge as his stand for righteousness, for law and for truth.
Judge Broyles was married November 8, 1894, to Miss Harriet D. Hall, of Charleston, South Carolina. They are the parents of one daughter, Mrs. Sargent Hamilton of Washington, District of Columbia.
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SOURCE: Knight, Lucien Lamar. A Standard History of Georgia and Georgians. Chicago & New York. The Lewis Publishing Company. 1917. pp 1850-1851
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1868 - 1947 (78 years)
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