Posted: April 26th, 2022

Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight

STUDY QUESTIONS for VIDEO, MUHAMMED ALI’S GREATEST FIGHT

1. Why does Justice Harlan hire Kevin Connolly as his law clerk?

Please pay attention to Connolly’s politics, clearly stated by him in his interview with Harlan, Harlan’s legacy from his grandfather, the way Harlan describes what he wants in a clerk and Harlan’s demeanor during the interview. This is a pretty straight forward question which is answered mostly by Harlan, but your reflections on the engagement of the two men should be recorded as well.

2. What were Muhammad Ali’s (Cassius Clay’s) objections to being drafted?

Ali himself is very honest and forthcoming in recorded interviews on his objections and they are related to his religion and to the political reality of his life experiences. Please note the power of his position against the backdrop of the protest movements of the 1960s. Please note Ali’s eloquence and his deeply-felt as well as politically insightful comments throughout the video.

3. How did the case get to the United States Supreme Court?

This case went through all the levels of the U.S. court system from administrative law courts to the highest court of the land. Do not omit any of those from your answer to this question.

4. Which Justice wanted to hear the case and why?

In the outline above, you have background on all of the justices. Please do not just give his name. Explore some of the reasons why he made such a stand.

5. What was Chief Justice Warren Burger’s initial and adamant position on the Ali case?

Chief Justice Burger was a highly defined and assured individual both personally and in the courtroom. The Ali case bad been brought before the Court the prior to the actions in the video and had been rejected by the Court. How does Burger react when his clerks tell him the case is back again? And how does he convey his position on this case to his fellow justices when they meet in Conference. The US Supreme Court has what is called The Rule of Four which means that any case that is sent to the court is reviewed by the Justices’ clerks who report their findings to the Justice an then is put in front of the entire Bench who vote in order of seniority. Four Justices must want to hear the case

6. What is your overall Assessment of Chief Justice Warren Burger?

Please note specific incidents from the beginning of the video, including Burger’s relationships with the other Justices, his position on cases before the Court (other than Muhammad Ali’s case which is dealt with in Question #5), his interactions with staff members, his connection to President Nixon (never seen on camera, of course), his attitude to the protesters on the streets and in the courtroom and, last, his manner towards attorneys presenting arguments before him.

7. How did the Justices arrive at their preliminary vote against Ali?

Please go through each justice’s reasoning.

8. Who was appointed to draft the decision and why?

By “who” is meant which justice, not the person who actually wrote the first draft. Who was that?

9. How was he persuaded to change his vote?

This question deserves multiple factors. Please remember how many incidents the video records around Harlan’s life at that time, his history on the court, the legacy of his grandfather, “the great dissenter,” and his present situation of health issues.

10. What argument swayed the Justices to rule in Ali’s favor?
Approach this question both legally and politically and do not leave either one out. The details are important.

Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight
Harlan hired Kevin Connolly as his law clerk to write an explanation or develop a legal opinion about Ali’s decision. Collony was to Help John Harlan on the assigned task of preparing the majority opinion (Smith, John Matthew, page 5-26). Harlan’s grandfather describes him as a charming while Harlan wanted a Clark was is an enthusiast, supporter of other chief justices, descent and loyal.
Muhammad Ali objections were drafted for religious reasons. According to Ali, the Koran could accept him to participate in the Vietnam War unless Allah instructed him. According to Ali, it was better to fight a holy war other than getting involved in a white man’s war (Smith, John Matthew, page 5-26). Ali being a stunt Muslim, was ready to go to prison for his religious beliefs. The Vietnam War draft was the cause of Muhammad Ali’s greatest fight, especially after Ali was sentenced for five years and charges ten thousand dollars fine. Ali was a civil rights d black power supporter, hence could not get involved in a racial war. Additionally, Ali’s anti-war believes was supported heavily by chief justice burger. Taking the case in the Supreme Court could be a backdrop
The case got into the supreme court in 1971after, making an appeal influenced by the arrest, conviction, ad evasion (Smith, John Matthew, page 5-26). The Supreme Court was to fight in favor of Ali through overruling convictions presented against him. Declining to fight the Vietnam War through evaluating the case racial elements, opinions from the clerk, and placing bets on the outcome.
After taking the case to the Supreme Court, nine chief justices were presented through Kevin Collony, also known as Benjamin Walker. Benjamin Walker was hired immediately; the case was taken to Supreme Court by Christopher Plummer’s chief justice known as John Harlan. Chief justice Harlan was a big supporter of chief justice Warren Burger a close friend to Ali (Smith, John Matthew, page 5-26). The chief justices that supported Ali in the case involved William Brenan, Hugo Black, and Thurgood Marshal. Thurgood marshal had a conflict of interest, hence recused. The chief justices consisted of liberals and conservatives against Ali’s case.
Chief justice Burger was Ali’s closest friend, who politically stood on what he believed about Muhammad Ali. Chief justice Warren Burger played an important role in assigning John Harlan to write the majority opinion. The Supreme Court clerks were the ones who saved Ali from jail and enhanced the development of his career (Smith, John Matthew, page 5-26). Justice Burger takes credits for the Supreme Court’s decisions, especially in providing racially balanced views. Burger’s influence helped Kevin Connolly to support Ali in objecting the draft handed to him due to religious reasons. Warren burger was surprised, including other justices, after realizing the case had resumed back. According to Brennan, Ali was a cultural hero and was not supposed to be imprisoned. The chief justices agreed to prepare for a vote on Ali’s appeal apart from Burger, who decided to waste time.
In the whole case scenario, chief justice warren burger has been a schemer producing veiled threats and ready to take threats handed by the Supreme Court (Sean, page 199-210). Burger provided unanimous decisions and ensured all other justices could not oppose his views and decisions in the Supreme Court. Also, Burger constantly communicated with President Richard Nixon, making emergency decisions without consulting Harlan to remove justices from politics. Additionally, the Burger had a hand in anti-war peaceful protestors’ arrest, where other justices could not overrule him. The Burger was politically involved and all decisions made were based on politics and racism. Burger’s political nature could not allow him to support Ali through voting. The Burger was disappointed in Blackmun’s decision to support early.
Kevin Connolly was instructed by chief justice Harlan to write a legal explanation on Ali’s case supporting his decision. Connolly finds a case that relates to Ali’s instance, which makes Collony write a revised opinion. Justice Harlan scolds Collony and refuses to budge, making Connolly give up. The other justices were less concerned about the case, where they could watch pornography instead of researching the case (Smith, John Matthew, page5-26). When Harlan dealt with the wife’s health, he considered reading collony’s research, which turned out good and well put (Sean, page 199-210). The decision to overturn Ali’s conviction was done anonymously and prevented interference from Burger, who accused Harlan of betrayal and because the case was going to benefit the black American. All justices decided to vote in favor of Ali apart from Burger.
Kevin Connolly was appointed to write the first draft about the decision. Collony stated the decision was wrong. Kevin Connolly draft decided to overturn the conviction, which Justice Harlan supported, who convinced other justices Smith, John Matthew, page5-26). Harlan was persuaded to change his vote after reading Connolly’s research because Harlan believed in-laws over politics. Harlan was a decent man who believed in Ali’s anti-war and religious believes despite justice burger opinion. The belief about Ali’s sincerity made him shift the votes to a balance of 4-4. Harlan’s sickness and the fact he was almost resigning from court promoted Ali’s decision to vote.
Legally, Ali’s case was based on religious beliefs. According to the case, religious laws were not balanced, especially the Black Muslim’s faith. The case was torn in between religious laws and the objection of white people Jacobs, (Sean, page 199-210). The case was more of a religious war but not a racial war, where justice was needed in the Black Muslim community. The justices politically ruled in favor of Ali after justices decided to unanimously change the votes after supporting the Jehovah witness case, similar to Ali’s case. Not showing Ali support could have been a racial case; hence providing support could have benefited the black Americans.

Work Cited
Jacobs, Sean. ““Get Used to Me” Muhammad Ali and the Paradoxes of Third World Solidarity.” (2018): 199-210.
Smith, John Matthew. “The resurrection: Atlanta, racial politics, and the return of Muhammad Ali.” Southern Cultures 21.2 (2015): 5-26.

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