Ehrhardt, Charles W.

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In Memoriam: Mason Ladd

Florida State University College of Law

Florida State University Law ReviewVolume 8 | Issue 2 Article 1Spring 1980In Memoriam: Mason LaddCharles W. EhrhardtFlorida State University College of LawFollow this and additional works at: http://ir.law.fsu.edu/lrPart of the Legal Education Commons, and the Legal Profession CommonsThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Florida State University LawReview by an authorized editor of Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact bkaplan@law.fsu.edu.Recommended CitationCharles W. Ehrhardt, In Memoriam: Mason Ladd, 8 Fla. St. U. L. Rev. 161 (2017) .http://ir.law.fsu.edu/lr/vol8/iss2/1FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY LAW REVIEWVOLUME 8 SPRING 1980 NUMBER 2IN MEMORIAMMASON LADDMason Ladd was a great law teacher and lawyer who put hisindelible mark on two law schools - the University of Iowa andFlorida State University. He had strong roots in Iowa where he wasborn in 1898, graduated from North High School in Des Moines,Grinnell College, and the University of Iowa College of Law. Masonpracticed in Des Moines prior to becoming a member of the Iowafaculty in 1929. He received an S.J.D. from Harvard in 1935. Afterten years teaching at Iowa, he was appointed dean, in which positionhe served until 1966. Mason was popular among deans and teachersand had a reputation as a recruiter of gifted young teachers.Mason Ladd was a scholar who was intimately involved in thecreation of the modern law of evidence. He was a member of theStanding Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure of theJudicial Conference of the United States which reviewed the workof the United States Supreme Court Advisory Committee on theFederal Rules of Evidence and forwarded the rules to the SupremeCourt of the United States for their approval. He also participateddirectly in the drafting of the Model Code of Evidence and was amember of the committee which acted for the National Conference ofCommissioners on Uniform State Laws in preparing the UniformRules of Evidence. He authored and co-authored casebooks on evi-dence, federal jurisdiction, civil procedure, and Iowa probate practice.His book Cases and Materials on Evidence, has been frequently citedby courts and widely used in law schools. He received numerousawards for his scholarly endeavors. Most recently, the FellQws of theAmerican Bar Foundation presented Mason Ladd their 1979 FellowsResearch Award for his extensive research in law and government.The attached bibliography indicates the scope of that research.Upon completing his career at the University of Iowa at age 68,Mason accepted the position of Dean at Florida State and began toplan the establishment of a new law school. When he accepted thischallenge, there was no building, no faculty, and no students. However,in the fall of 1966, the law school at Florida State opened with over100 students enrolled. Under his leadership and constant prodding,the College of Law began its steady growth. Prior to his retirementat Florida State in 1969, he obtained funding for the new College of162 FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY LAW REVIEW [Vol. 8:161Law building and completed the preliminary planning for its con-struction. For three years thereafter Mason returned each winter toTallahassee to teach evidence and renew old acquaintances.Ladd was a master in the classroom. I first knew him as a studentin his evidence class at Iowa. The joy and fervor that Mason broughtto the law of evidence was catching and his students quickly becameimmersed in the theory and rules of evidence. It was almost impos-sible not to learn with a teacher who was so inspiring. Some of thecases which were discussed will never be forgotten by his students.With his canes waving in the air, his discussion of the escapades of"Chiggers", the mule, during his trip down the Grand Canyon wasa classic.1Mason had a sincere interest in seeing his faculty succeed. In 1967,Mason hired me at the new law school at Florida State. I was morethan a little nervous when Mason told his three new faculty thatduring the week before classes began each of us would teach our firstclass to him as he sat alone in a classroom equipped for over 125students. Although I was somewhat shaky asking Mason the hypo-theticals that I intended to use in my first Torts class, he played therole of a student well and was full of praise at the completion ofthe hour. After that experiende, my first hour in front of real stu-dents was anticlimactic.Mason was proud of the law school he started at Florida Stateand worked hard to make it a success. The charter class was en-couraged, cajoled, and made to work hard. He took a personal interestin his students. There were a number of students having difficulty ina course who were stopped by Mason in the hall, invited to his apart-ment for Sunday dinner, and told to bring their class notes. Afterthe meal and visiting had been finished, the table would be clearedand Mason would spend the remainder of the afternoon tutoring. Hisinterest in Florida State remained with him after he returned to Iowa.Shortly before his death, he helped with Florida State's applicationto The Order of the Coif. He was proud and happy when our chapterwas awarded.In his free time in Tallahassee, Mason tried to swim daily andliked to fish for bass when he had the opportunity. He talked fre-quently about his farm outside of Iowa City and looked forward toreturning. He enjoyed seeing his orchard bear fruit and driving hiswell cared for tractor over the fields. Mason was close to his family.His wife, Esther, was truly his partner in life. He was a man of strongmoral conviction and character.1 Fred Harvey Corp. v. Mateas, 170 F.2d 612 (9th Cir. 1948). Mason hadvisited the Grand Canyon and had someone point out Chiggers standing in acorral. Of course, the class was treated to a description of the mule.IN MEMORIAMThe law and legal education will miss Mason Ladd. His personaltraits together with his dedication, scholarship, and enthusiasm forthe law serve as an exemplar for those who knew him.CHARLES W. EHRHARDTLADD PROFESSOR OF EVIDENCEFLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITYSELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF DEAN LADD'S PUBLICATIONSArticles:Ladd, Liability of Individuals Conducting the Affairs of a ForeignCorporation Not Authorized to Do Business in Iowa, 15 IowA L.REV. 285 (1930).Brooke & Ladd, Decree in Probate Proceeding Determining Heirs,Distributees and Distribution, 16 IOWA L. REV. 195 (1931).Ladd, Commentary on Recent Iowa Legislation Affecting Courts, Pro-cedure, and Practice, 17 IOWA L. REV. 24 (1931).Ladd, The Need in Iowa of an Offer of Excluded Testimony for Ap-peal, 18 IOWA L. REV. 304 (1933).Ladd, Admission of Evidence Against Estates of Deceased Persons, 19IOWA L. REV. 521 (1934).Ladd, Impeachment of One's Own Witness-New Developments, 4 U.CHI. L. REV. 69 (1936).Ladd & Gibson, The Medico-Legal Aspects of the Blood Test to Deter-mine Intoxication, 24 IOWA L. REV. 191 (1939), 29 VA. L. REV. 749(1943).Ladd, Techniques and Theory of Character Testimony, 24 IOWA L.REV. 498 (1939).Ladd, Credibility Tests-Current Trends, 89 U. PA. L. REV. 166(1940).Ladd, The Dead Man Statute: Some Further Observations and a Legis-lative Proposal, 26 IOWA L. REV. 207 (1941).Ladd, Modern Thinking Upon Evidence-A Model Code, 17 TENN. L.REV. 10 (1941).Ladd, Hearsay We Admit, 5 OKLA. L. REV. 271 (1952).Ladd, Expert Testimony, 5 VAND. L. REV. 414 (1952).Ladd, Expert and Other Opinion Testimony, 40 MINN. L. REV. 437(1956).Ladd, Witness, 10 RUTGERS L. REV. 523 (1956).Ladd, Determination of Relevancy, 31 TUL. L. REV. 81 (1956).Ladd, Demonstrative Evidence and Expert Opinion, 1956 WASH.U.L.Q. 1.19801164 FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY LAW REVIEW [Vol. 8:161Ladd, Objections, Motions, and Foundations Testimony, 43 CORNELLL.Q. 543 (1958).Ladd, Paul Sayre, 45 IOWA L. REV. at vii (1960).Ladd, Uniform Evidence Rules in the Federal Courts, 49 VA. L. REV.692 (1963).Ladd, Some Observations on Credibility: Impeachment of Witnesses,52 CORNELL L.Q. 239 (1967).Ladd, Privileges, 1969 L. & Soc. ORDER 555 (1969).Ladd, Some Highlights of the New Federal Rules of Evidence, 1 FLA.ST. U.L. REV. 191 (1973).Ladd, Presumptions in Civil Actions, 1977 ARIz. ST. L. J. 275 (1977).Books:LADD, CASES ON EXTRAORDINARY REMEDIES (1931).PERKINS, HANDBOOK FOR IOWA PEACE OFFICERS (1938) (contributedchapter on the conduct of an officer on the witness stand).LADD & DOBIE, CASES AND MATERIALS ON FEDERAL JURISDICTION ANDPROCEDURE (1940).LADD, CASES AND MATERIALS ON EVIDENCE (1949).LADD, BROWN & VESTAL, CASES AND MATERIALS ON PLEADING ANDPROCEDURE (1953).LADD, CASES AND MATERIALS ON EVIDENCE (2d ed, 1955).BALLANTINE, LAW PROBLEMS WITH SOLUTIONS (1956) (contributedchapter on Evidence).LADD & BOYD, IOWA PROBATE PRACTICE (1957).LADD & CARLSON, CASES AND MATERIALS ON EVIDENCE (1972).LADD & CARLSON, CASES AND MATERIALS ON EVIDENCE, APRIL 1976SUPPLEMENT (1976).

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In Memoriam: Mason Ladd

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