Hugo Friend | |
|---|---|
 Friend, circa 1921 | |
| Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois | |
| In office September 18, 1920 – April 29, 1966 | |
| Appointed by | Frank O. Lowden |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Hugo Morris Friend July 21, 1882 Prague, Bohemia |
| Died | April 29, 1966 (aged 83) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Spouse | Sadie Cohn (1920–1966; his death) |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | University of Chicago (undergraduate and law) |
| Occupation | Judge |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's athletics | ||
Representing the  United States
| ||
| Olympic Games | ||
 |
1906 Athens | Long jump |
Hugo Morris Friend (July 21, 1882 – April 29, 1966) was an American jurist who, in his youth, competed as an athlete in the long jump and hurdles. He is best remembered as the judge who presided over the criminal trial of the Chicago Black Sox, which ended in an acquittal. Eight players were ultimately banned from professional baseball for life.
Friend was born in Benešov but came to the United States at an early age. He attended the University of Chicago beginning in 1901, where he became a track star. He was selected for the United States team for the 1906 Intercalated Games in Athens, Greece and won a bronze medal.
He became a lawyer in 1908 and a judge twelve years later. He presided over the Black Sox trial in 1921, and when the defendants were acquitted, he responded to the jubilation in the courtroom with a smile. At the time of his 1966 death, he was the oldest active member of the Cook County Circuit Court bench.