H. Lee Sarokin, judge who freed ‘Hurricane’ Carter, dies at 94

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H. Lee Sarokin, a federal judge known for his role in freeing boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter and his groundbreaking ruling on tobacco companies concealing smoking dangers, passed away in California at the age of 94, as reported by news outlets. Sarokin, who suffered from pulmonary fibrosis and other ailments, died on Tuesday in La Jolla, San Diego, where he and his wife had been residing during their retirement, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Born in New Jersey, Haddon Lee Sarokin was a graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School. He was nominated as a federal judge by former President Jimmy Carter and served on the district court in New Jersey from 1979 to 1994, followed by the appeals court from 1994 to 1996.

One of Sarokin’s notable achievements was overturning the convictions of Rubin “Hurricane” Carter and John Artis, two African American men wrongly accused of murdering three white men. In 1985, Sarokin ruled that their prosecution was racially motivated and lacked evidence. This ruling stood after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal. Carter’s innocence had gained support from various celebrities and was immortalized in a 1975 song by Bob Dylan. Sarokin revealed that Carter would call him annually on November 7 to commemorate the ruling.

Another significant case presided over by Sarokin in 1988 involved a landmark liability lawsuit against tobacco companies. His pre-trial rulings allowed corporate records to be presented as evidence, and despite requests from the company’s lawyers to dismiss the case, Sarokin refused, stating that the evidence revealed a far-reaching conspiracy by the tobacco industry to conceal the dangers of smoking. The case resulted in a jury awarding $400,000 to the estate of Rose Cipollone, who had succumbed to the effects of smoking. Although the verdict was overturned on appeal and Sarokin was removed from a subsequent similar case due to perceived bias, the documents from the case laid the groundwork for numerous lawsuits filed by state attorneys general in 1998.

Throughout his career, Sarokin issued approximately 2,500 rulings, including one that prevented a homeless man from being banned from a public library based on his smell. Described as fearless in expressing his opinions, Sarokin continued his advocacy work in retirement. He regularly contributed to HuffPost and wrote twelve plays addressing themes of social justice and civil rights, which were performed by the regional North Coast Repertory Theater.

Sarokin is survived by his wife, Margie Sarokin, five children, and eleven grandchildren.

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• AP News: H. Lee Sarokin, judge who freed ‘Hurricane’ Carter, dies at 94
• The San Diego Union-Tribune: H. Lee Sarokin, federal judge who freed Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter, dies at 94
• The New York Times: H. Lee Sarokin, Judge Who Freed ‘Hurricane’ Carter, Dies at 94
• Los Angeles Times: H. Lee Sarokin, federal judge who freed Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter, dies at 94
• Biography of H. Lee Sarokin
• Rubin “Hurricane” Carter Case – Wikipedia
• Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement – Wikipedia
• H. Lee Sarokin’s HuffPost Articles