Soon, a part of judicial history that brought national attention to Morgan County will have a place at the courthouse.

The Morgan County Bar Association plans to honor the memory of the late Circuit Judge James Horton II, who presided over the Scottsboro Boys trial at the courthouse in 1933.

John Mays, president of the association, addressed the County Commission on Tuesday.

He asked the commission to allow him and other bar members to place a portrait of Horton and a plaque in his honor on a wall on the fifth floor of the courthouse.

Bright moment

He gave a brief summary of Horton’s role in the trial.

“In 1933, James E. Horton presided over one of the Scottsboro Boys’ trials here at this courthouse,” he said.

“The following summer, he made the decision to and granted a new trial, a decision that successfully ended his political career. Presiding over that trial was a bright time in the history of Morgan County.”

Mays said he and Circuit Judge Steve Haddock are spearheading a program Aug. 28 to honor Horton and his judicial career.

At that time, they will unveil a painting from the family and a plaque.

The commission granted both requests for Mays to have the program and display the painting and plaque at the courthouse.

Case history

In March 1931, nine black males, who had hopped a freight train in Chattanooga seeking work, ended up being accused of raping two white women who were also on the train.

The accusations came after a fight between them and a group of white teenagers.

To get even, it was reported, the white teens told the train master that the Scottsboro Boys had raped two white women.

The women, who were from Huntsville, concurred.

All convicted

The black males, ranging in age from 12 to 20, were taken to jail in Scottsboro.

The nine youngsters were tried just days after the allegations, and a jury of white farmers convicted all but the 12-year old because jurors deadlocked on a death sentence for him.

Ultimately, they got second trials through a higher court ruling.

Horton presided over Haywood Patterson’s second trial in 1933, when one of the women testified that they had made up the story about being raped.

The jury still found him guilty and rendered the death penalty.

That’s when Horton took over and granted a new trial.

‘Let justice be done’

The case continued up to a fourth trial under another judge.

Mays said he looks forward to honoring Horton, who, during his ruling in the case, quoted a Latin phrase, “Let justice be done though the heavens may fall.”