Hastings, Alcee L. (Alcee Lamar), 1936-2021

<p>Alcee L. Hastings represents his native state of Florida by serving as Congressman for District 20, which includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach Counties. During the 116th Congress, Hastings serves as the Vice Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Dean and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.</p>

<p>Congressman Hastings was first elected in 1992 and is currently serving his 14th term in the Congress. Born in Altamonte Springs, he attended Florida's public schools, and graduated from Fisk University in 1958. He earned his law degree from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.</p>

<p>Known to many as "Judge," Alcee Hastings has distinguished himself as an attorney, civil rights activist, judge, and now Member of Congress. Appointed by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, he became the first African-American Federal Judge in the State of Florida, and served in that position for 10 years. Since his election to Congress as the first African-American from Florida since the post-Civil War period, Congressman Hastings has been an outspoken advocate for Floridians and our nation as a whole. Throughout his lifetime, Congressman Hastings has championed the rights of minorities, women, the elderly, children, and immigrants. </p>

HASTINGS, Alcee Lamar, a Representative from Florida; born in Altamonte Springs, Seminole County, Fla., September 5, 1936; graduated Crooms Academy, Sanford, Fla, 1953; B.A., Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn., 1958; attended Howard University School of Law, Washington, D.C., 1958-1960; J.D., Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, 1963; lawyer, private practice; unsuccessful candidate for nomination to the United States Senate in 1970; Broward County, Fla., circuit court judge, 1977-1979; United States district judge for the Southern District of Florida, 1979-1989; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Third and to the fourteen succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1993-present).

<p>Alcee Lamar Hastings ( September 5, 1936 – April 6, 2021) is the U.S. Representative for Florida's 20th congressional district. The district includes most of the majority-black precincts in and around Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. A Democrat, Hastings served as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida until his impeachment and removal for accepting bribes.</p>

<p>Born in Altamonte Springs, Florida, Hastings was educated at Howard University in Washington, D.C. and Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in zoology and botany from Fisk in 1958. He attended Howard University School of Law from 1958 to 1960, and received his Juris Doctor from Florida A&M University College of Law in 1963. While in school, he became a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. He was admitted to the bar in 1963, and began to practice law.</p>

<p>In 1977, Hastings became a judge of the circuit court of Broward County, Florida. On August 28, 1979, President Jimmy Carter nominated Hastings to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, to a new seat authorized by 92 Stat. 1629. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 31, 1979, and received his commission on November 2, 1979. His service was terminated on October 20, 1989, due to impeachment and conviction.</p>

<p>Hastings attempted to make a political comeback by running for Secretary of State of Florida, campaigning on a platform of legalizing casinos. In a three-way Democratic primary, he placed second with 33% of the vote, behind newspaper columnist Jim Minter's 38% of the vote. In the runoff, which saw a large dropoff in turnout, Minter defeated Hastings, 67%–33%. Hastings won just one of Florida's 67 counties: Miami-Dade.</p>

<p>Hastings was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1992, representing Florida's 23rd district. After placing second in the initial Democratic primary for the post, he scored an upset victory over state representative Lois J. Frankel in the runoff and went on to easily win election in the heavily Democratic district. He has not faced a serious challenge for reelection since. After redistricting, Hastings has represented Florida's 20th district since January 2013.</p>

<p>In January 2019, Hastings was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He died on April 6, 2021, at the age of 84.</p>