Alcee Hastings Archives

Alcee Hastings was a U.S. Representative from Florida who served from 1993 until his death. Died: April 6, 2021 (Who else died on April 6?)Details of death: Died after a battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 84.We invite you to share condolences for Alcee Hastings in our Guest Book. Before his congressional career Hastings began his career as a lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, taking on civil rights cases in an area where the rights of Black people were often threatened in the 1960s and ‘70s. Hastings fought to desegregate Broward County schools and sued establishments that wouldn’t serve Black people. After building a reputation as a crusader for social justice, he made history in 1979 by becoming the first Black federal judge in Florida. But his term on the bench ended 10 years later in impeachment and removal after he was tried on charges of soliciting a bribe. He became the first sitting federal judge to be tried on criminal charges. The impeachment ended his judicial career, but it didn’t prevent him from seeking – and winning – public office in the future. 15 terms in the House Hastings had mounted several unsuccessful bids for various public offices, including the U.S. Senate, before his first win in 1992 – just three years after he was removed from the federal bench. He was elected to the House, representing Florida’s 23rd district and later its 20th district. He would go on to mount another 14 successful campaigns, becoming the longest serving current member of the House. Serving on the Rules Committee, Hastings earned a reputation in Congress for speaking his mind. Hastings on his cancer diagnosis “The most practical way of looking at it is I’ve had a good run. The simple fact of the matter is that... I have faced no challenge as considerable as this particular one, but I face it with the same courage that I’ve faced other challenges, and that is it ain’t nothing but something to do.” —from a 2019 speech at the Deerfield Beach Democratic Club Tributes to Alcee Hastings https://twitter.com/RepJeffries/status/1379436123013804044 https://twitter.com/SpeakerPelosi/status/1379594778258587649 https://twitter.com/RepValDemings/status/1379434320989839362 https://twitter.com/harrisonjaime/status/1379435529138147338 https://twitter.com/AndrewGillum/status/1379448526741123072 Full obituary: South Florida Sun Sentinel https://youtu.be/U1d3Z3yq4X0 View More Legacy Videos

Alcee Hastings

Alcee Hastings (1936–2021), longtime U.S. Representative from Florida