Irving P. Whitehead, a known eugenicist, served as Buck's attorney. He was a close confidante of Albert Priddy, the superintendent of Virginia Colony at the start of the trial, and a childhood friend of Aubrey E. Strode, who drafted the 1924 "Eugenical Sterilization Act". Whitehead failed to adequately defend Buck and counteract the prosecutors. Thus, his case did not convince the Supreme Court to vote in favor of Buck. The cross examination and witnesses produced by Whitehead were ineffectual, and allegedly a result of his alliance with Strode during the trial. Additionally, Whitehead was also familiar with the sterilization law's drafters. There was no real competition between the prosecution and defense, and thus the Supreme Court did not receive sufficient evidence to make a fair decision on the "friendly suit."