After resigning as city court judge, Hugo Black aggressively builds up his law practice and expands his circle of friends and civic involvement. In court, Black often represents poor African American and white workers injured in mines, factories, and mills. In 1914, having built up a lucrative law practice, Black runs for County Solicitor, the chief prosecutor of Jefferson County, on a reform platform against the incumbent, a brother of US Rep. "Cotton Tom" Heflin. The local newspapers endorse Black's opponents, but he runs a strong campaign relying on his friends in the clubs, lodges, and civic groups (and their friends) to give him a plurality victory. Black assembles an effective office of lawyers to bring law, order, and color-blind justice to Birmingham, as Alabama's old leader of white progressive reform, B. B. Comer, is defeated in his bid for governor and Oscar W. Underwood becomes Alabama's newest U.S. Senator.

Black's ...new clients were usually like his old ones--poor and poorly paid workers. Many were African Americans. Most endured problems, injuries, or the death of loved ones involving railroads, insurance companies, or coal and mining companies.

In many cases, corporate lawyers appealed to higher courts, suspending or eventually overturning the jury's decision. As a result, Black traveled frequently to Montgomery to argue that the Alabama Supreme Court should uphold decisions of a Birmingham trial judge and jury.

While his young rebellious daughter, Zelda, was already making herself into a dazzling icon of the modern woman, Justice Sayre had little interest in anyone or anything except his duty to embody and uphold the old South's patriarchal notions of justice.

In the week before the election, tens of thousands of small colored cards were printed and distributed. On both sides they stated in bold type: "Black or Heflin--Which?" Black ran the same question in small, bold ads throughout local papers.