Alcee Hastings

Alcee Hastings
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida
In office January 3, 1993 – April 6, 2021
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick
Constituency	23rd district (1993–2013) 20th district (2013–2021)
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
In office November 2, 1979 – October 20, 1989
Appointed by	Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	Seat established
Succeeded by	Federico A. Moreno
Judge of the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida
In office May 2, 1977 – October 31, 1979
Appointed by	Reubin Askew
Preceded by	Stewart LaMotte
Succeeded by	Harry Hinckley
Personal details
Born	Alcee Lamar Hastings (1936-09-05)September 5, 1936 Altamonte Springs, Florida, U.S.
Died	April 6, 2021(2021-04-06) (aged 84)
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Twice divorced Patricia Williams ​ (m. 2019)​
Children	3
Education	Fisk University (BA) Howard University Florida A&M University (JD)
Alcee Hastings's voice Alcee Hastings on the 100th anniversary of the National Urban League Recorded May 5, 2010

Alcee Lamar Hastings (/ˈælsiː/ AL-see; September 5, 1936 – April 6, 2021) was an American politician and former judge from the state of Florida. He was notable for having been impeached and removed from office as a judge for bribery and perjury.

Hastings was nominated to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida by President Jimmy Carter in August 1979. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 31, 1979. In 1981, after an FBI sting operation, Hastings was charged with conspiracy to solicit a bribe. Following a 1983 criminal trial, Hastings was acquitted; however, he was impeached for bribery and perjury by the United States House of Representatives in 1988 and was convicted by the United States Senate in his impeachment trial on October 20, 1989. While Hastings was removed from the bench, the Senate did not bar him from holding public office in the future. Hastings was the first and, as of 2023, remains the only African American federal official to be impeached.

A Democrat, Hastings was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1992. He represented Florida's 23rd congressional district from 1993 to 2013 and represented Florida's 20th congressional district from 2013 until his death in 2021. The 20th district included most of the majority-black precincts in and around Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Following Ileana Ros-Lehtinen's departure from office in 2019, Hastings became the dean of Florida's congressional delegation; he retained this title until his death.^[1]