Encyclopedia article about William Bootle, a U.S. District Court judge from 1954 to 1981, presided over several federal court challenges to racial segregation in Georgia, most notably the lawsuit that forced the integration of the University of Georgia (UGA) in 1961. He also issued a number of court orders that were instrumental in desegregating Georgia's schools, elections, and transportation facilities. Bootle graduated from Reidsville High School before enrolling in Mercer University in Macon. U.S. president Calvin Coolidge appointed Bootle assistant and later full U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. Bootle also taught at and served as interim dean of the Mercer University School of Law. U.S. president Dwight Eisenhower appointed Bootle to fill a vacant judgeship in the Middle District, where he served until he retired in 1981.

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Cite as: "William Bootle (1902-2005)," New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved [date]: http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org.

Forms part of the New Georgia Encyclopedia.