The name Wayne Collins may not be familiar to everyone, but his contributions to civil liberties in the United States are nothing short of remarkable. Best known for his defense of Fred Korematsu during World War II, Collins played a pivotal role in challenging one of the darkest moments in U.S. history: the internment of Japanese Americans.
The Korematsu Case: A Defining Moment
In 1942, Fred Korematsu was arrested for refusing to relocate to an internment camp. His case, Korematsu v. United States, would eventually make its way to the Supreme Court. Representing Korematsu was Wayne Collins, a founding member of the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) Northern California branch.
Collins argued passionately against Korematsu’s arrest, framing Japanese internment as an unconstitutional and moral injustice. In his address to the Court, Collins made powerful connections between the internment camps and other forms of historical oppression:
“Who is this DeWitt [the general in charge of relocation] to say who is and who is not an American and who shall and who shall not enjoy the rights of citizenship? […] History will not forget your opinion herein.”
Though his rhetoric was impassioned, the Court ultimately ruled against Korematsu, deferring to the government’s claims of military necessity. The Court’s decision would stand for decades as one of the most controversial rulings in U.S. legal history.
Learn more about Fred Korematsu’s legacy on the ACLU’s website here
American Civil Liberties Union.
Collins’ Continued Fight for Justice
Despite the loss in Korematsu’s case, Collins did not give up his fight for justice. From 1944 to 1945, he took on the U.S. government again, this time representing nearly 3,000 Japanese Americans who had renounced their citizenship under duress during internment. Collins argued that pro-Japanese factions within the camps had coerced many of these individuals to give up their citizenship, a fact that the military overlooked or ignored.
Collins succeeded in restoring citizenship to nearly 5,000 Japanese Americans and prevented the deportation of hundreds of Japanese Latin Americans who had been brought to U.S. camps during the war.
Lessons from Wayne Collins
Wayne Collins’ legal career shows that the road to justice can be long and filled with setbacks. While his eloquence and passion in Korematsu’s case were unmatched, it was his methodical work in later cases that brought about true change. His efforts helped restore the rights of thousands who had been wronged by an unjust system.
In the words of historian Lorraine Bannai:
“Collins understood that while courts may not always rule on the side of morality, the fight for justice requires patience, persistence, and a deep belief in what is right.”
Collins’ legacy serves as a reminder that even in the face of overwhelming opposition, individuals can make a difference by standing up for what is just.
Learn more about the Korematsu Center for Law and Equality here
American Civil Liberties Union.
Wayne Collins: A Legal Pioneer
If you want to explore more about Wayne Collins’ courageous legal battles, you can find a detailed history here
