Learned Hand

Billings Learned Hand ( born January 27, 1872 in Albany, New York; † August 18, 1961 ) was an American judge and legal scholar. He officiated 37 years at the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ( 1924-1961 ) and is considered one of the most influential American legal philosopher of the 20th century. His writings were in judgments of the United States Supreme Court cited more often than any other judge who was not even on the Supreme Court operates.

He was born in Albany, New York. Its unusual name he owed a special family tradition in the family of his mother (who was with birth name Learned and an uncle named Billings had ) were always given surname as a first name. He studied at Harvard University with philosophers such as William James, Josiah Royce and George Santayana.