Representative William Carlton Mobley

William Carlton Mobley (December 7, 1906 – October 14, 1981) was a jurist and politician from the American state of Georgia. A member of the Democratic Party, he became one of the youngest people ever elected to the United States House of Representatives, entering Congress at the age of 25. Over the course of his public life he combined legislative service with a long and influential judicial career in Georgia.

Mobley was born on December 7, 1906, in Georgia, where he spent his early years and developed an interest in law and public affairs. Growing up in the early twentieth century South, he was educated in local schools before pursuing higher education with the goal of entering the legal profession. His formative years coincided with a period of political and economic change in Georgia, shaping his later commitment to public service and the rule of law.

After completing his preliminary education, Mobley studied law and was admitted to the bar in Georgia, beginning a legal career that would provide the foundation for his later work in both legislative and judicial roles. As a young attorney, he gained experience in private practice and became active in Democratic Party politics. His legal training and political engagement quickly brought him to the attention of party leaders, who recognized his potential despite his youth.

Mobley’s rapid rise culminated in his election to the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat from Georgia, where he served one term from 1931 to 1933. Taking his seat at the age of 25, he was among the youngest individuals ever to serve in the House. His tenure in Congress coincided with the final years of the Hoover administration and the onset of the Great Depression, a significant period in American history. During this time he participated in the legislative process, represented the interests of his Georgia constituents, and contributed to debates over national economic and social policy as the country confronted unprecedented financial turmoil.

After leaving Congress in 1933, Mobley returned to Georgia and resumed his legal career, continuing to build his reputation as a capable lawyer and public servant. His experience in the national legislature enhanced his stature within the state’s legal and political communities, and he increasingly focused on judicial work. Over time he moved from advocacy in the courtroom to service on the bench, reflecting both his professional growth and his commitment to the administration of justice in Georgia.

Mobley ultimately became best known as a jurist, serving for many years on Georgia’s highest court. His judicial career, which followed his earlier legislative service, placed him at the center of important questions of state law and governance during the mid-twentieth century. As a justice, and later in senior judicial roles, he helped shape Georgia jurisprudence in areas ranging from constitutional interpretation to civil and criminal procedure, drawing on his combined experience as a lawyer, legislator, and judge.

In his later life, Mobley remained an influential figure in Georgia’s legal community, mentoring younger attorneys and judges and maintaining close ties to the institutions in which he had served. He continued his judicial and public activities into the latter decades of the twentieth century, reflecting a lifelong dedication to public service. William Carlton Mobley died on October 14, 1981, leaving a legacy that encompassed both his early achievement as one of the youngest members of the United States House of Representatives and his long, distinguished service as a Georgia jurist.