List of first minority male lawyers and judges in Michigan explained

This is a list of the first minority male lawyer(s) and judge(s) in Michigan. It includes the year in which the men were admitted to practice law (in parentheses). Also included are men who achieved other distinctions such becoming the first in their state to graduate from law school or become a political figure.

Firsts in state history

Law degree

Lawyers

State judges

Federal judge

Assistant Attorney General

United States Attorney

Bar Association

Faculty

Firsts in local history

[59] First African American male lawyer for the Wayne County Friend of the Court (1959)

[64] First Asian American male to serve as the Dean of Wayne State University Law School (2004)

See also

Other topics of interest

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gabriel Hargo, LLB'1870 . 2024-02-07 . Alumni Association of the University of Michigan . en-US.
  2. Book: Smith, J. Clay Jr.. Emancipation: The Making of the Black Lawyer, 1844-1944. 1999-01-01. University of Pennsylvania Press. 0812216857. en.
  3. Web site: Michigan Black Lawyers' "Firsts". Littlejohn. Edward J.. May 2015. Michigan Bar Journal.
  4. Web site: In 1890 David Augustus Straker fought for everyone to be served in public. Thomas. Lee. 2020-02-03. FOX 2 Detroit. en-US. 2020-03-13.
  5. Web site: Why the Supreme Court Lied in Plessy. Bogen. David S.. 2007. Villanova Law Review.
  6. Book: Tamura, Eileen. Americanization, Acculturation, and Ethnic Identity: The Nisei Generation in Hawaii. registration. 241. first japanese american lawyer arthur ozawa.. 1994-01-01. University of Illinois Press. 9780252063589.
  7. Book: Gall, Susan B.. The Asian-American Almanac: A Reference Work on Asians in the United States. 1995. Gale Research. 978-0-8103-9193-2. en.
  8. Book: Wilkinson, Sook. Asian Americans in Michigan: Voices from the Midwest. 2015-04-01. Wayne State University Press. 978-0-8143-3974-9. en.
  9. News: Michigan's first Muslim lawyer, Michael Berry of Dearborn, dies at 95. MLive.com. 2016-10-09.
  10. Web site: Arab-American pioneer Michael Berry dies Times-Herald and Sunday Times Newspapers. downriversundaytimes.com. en-US. 2018-01-31.
  11. Web site: Simons, The Historical Society . 2024-05-16 . The Historical Society . en-US.
  12. Web site: Portrait unveiled of Third Circuit Court judge > Detroit Legal News . 2019-03-08 . legalnews.com.
  13. Book: B'nai B'rith Magazine . 1928 . Independent Order of B'nai B'rith . en.
  14. News: Finkelstein . Jim . 1991-11-26 . Wayne County judge's post inspired Greek Americans . 10 . Detroit Free Press . 2023-12-18.
  15. Book: The Detroit Almanac: 300 Years of Life in the Motor City. Gavrilovich. Peter. McGraw. Bill. 2006. Detroit Free Press. 9780937247488.
  16. Book: National Bar Association Magazine. 1989. The Association. en.
  17. Book: Black Lawyers, Law Practice, and Bar Associations--1844 to 1970: A Michigan History. Littlejohn. Edward J.. Hobson. Donald L.. 1987. Wolverine Bar Association. en.
  18. News: Levin . Doron P. . 1994-06-30 . Otis Smith, 72, G.M. Executive And Ex-Justice . en-US . The New York Times . 2018-01-29 . 0362-4331.
  19. Book: Annual Report. 1973. Civil Rights Commission. en.
  20. News: August 29, 1976 . Judge Yemen Wins Impressive Primary Victory, Looks Ahead to November . The Armenian Weekly.
  21. Web site: Hightower . Brendel . Adam Shakoor, first Muslim judge and attorney who represented Rosa Parks, dies . 2022-04-26 . Detroit Free Press . en-US.
  22. Web site: Conrad Mallett, Jr. . 2019-07-22 . www.micourthistory.org.
  23. Web site: Hon. Conrad Mallett, Jr. portrait presented > Ingham County Legal News . 2019-07-22 . www.legalnews.com.
  24. Web site: SADO - Article - Rudolph "Rudy" Serra. 2022-02-16. www.sado.org.
  25. Web site: Justice Richard Bernstein. courts.mi.gov. en-us. 2018-01-16.
  26. News: Blind Judge Makes History, Joins Michigan's Supreme Court. 2014-12-28. Huffington Post. 2018-01-16. en-US.
  27. Book: Chardavoyne, David Gardner . United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan: People, Law, and Politics . 2012-03-15 . Wayne State University Press . 978-0-8143-3720-2 . en.
  28. Web site: Retired Bankruptcy Judge . 2022-07-19 . AP NEWS . en.
  29. News: Ap . 1987-04-01 . HARRY G. HACKETT . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-07-19 . 0362-4331.
  30. Web site: Gardey . Rosemary Wummel . April 2001 . Judicial Profile: Hon. George Caram Steeh III, U.S. District Judge, Eastern District of Michigan . Federal Bar Association.
  31. Web site: Harold Bledsoe dies in Detroit. April 13, 1974. The Pittsburgh Courier. en. 2020-03-10.
  32. Web site: ATTRIBUTING SUCCESS TO RACE POLICY. Writer. ROBERT A. FRAHM; Courant Staff. courant.com. 30 March 2003 . en-US. 2019-01-06.
  33. Web site: Ex-US attorney Miles running for Michigan attorney general. Eggert. David. 2017-09-28. AP NEWS. 2019-01-06.
  34. Web site: Ex-US attorney Miles running for Michigan attorney general. TheOaklandPress.com. en. 2019-01-06.
  35. Web site: In Memorium - William H. Ellmann. March 2002. ALRA Advisor.
  36. Web site: January 25, 2002 - Image 97 . 2024-05-17 . The Detroit Jewish News Digital Archives . en.
  37. Book: Upward Moves on the Legal Front. October 1985. Johnson Publishing Company. en.
  38. Web site: Hon. Harry T. Edwards UCI Law. WeedyGarden.net. Erik Runyon . www.law.uci.edu. 2018-01-18.
  39. Book: Alvarado, Rudolph V. . Mexicans and Mexican Americans in Michigan . Alvarado . Sonya Yvette . 2003-08-31 . MSU Press . 978-0-87013-885-0 . en.
  40. Web site: Hunt . Sarah Bricker . 2022-08-09 . For the First Time Ever, This Tiny Town in Michigan Will Have a Pride Festival . 2023-04-12 . Pride Source . en-US.
  41. Web site: Heritage: Oscar W. Baker. Bay Journal. Kusmierz. Marvin. 2018-02-13.
  42. Book: First Negro Heads State Trial Lawyers Group. 1968-07-18. Johnson Publishing Company. en.
  43. Web site: Remembering Battle Creek's black trailblazers. Battle Creek Enquirer. en. 2019-03-06.
  44. News: . Christenson . Trace . Foundation honors county's first black judge . Battle Creek Enquirer . 20 February 2010 . A.8 .
  45. Web site: Ollie B. Bivins Jr.: Georgia native ruled with passion in two Genesee County courts. Mullen. Roneisha D.. MLive.com. 31 January 2008 . en-US. 2019-01-15.
  46. Web site: History. www.gcbalaw.org. 2019-01-06.
  47. News: Stuart Dunnings III loses law license . en . Lansing State Journal . 2018-02-13.
  48. Web site: Stuart J. Dunnings Jr.'s Obituary . 2018-02-13 . Lansing State Journal.
  49. Web site: Black elected Isabella County probate judge. Norton. Mindy. TheMorningSun.com. 7 November 2018 . en. 2018-12-08.
  50. Web site: James Liggins moves to Warner, will remain in Kalamazoo as it hosts national mock trial tourney > Grand Rapids Legal News. legalnews.com. 2020-03-12.
  51. Web site: The Judge Charles A. Pratt Bar Association Bar Association Lawyer. Scribd. en. 2020-03-12.
  52. Web site: Leroy Densmore Jr. : December 15, 2016 Kalamazoo, MI. www.lifestorynet.com. en. 2020-03-11.
  53. Book: Jelks, Randal Maurice. African Americans in the Furniture City: The Struggle for Civil Rights in Grand Rapids. 2006. University of Illinois Press. 9780252073472. en.
  54. Web site: Other facts, Pontiac Black History 1820 1969click here for Pontiac Black History 1969 to Today 1820 Federal Census of Oakland County listed family of Mr. www.pontiac.mi.us. 2018-02-13.
  55. Web site: Hispanic attorney appointed to bench. The Oakland Press. en. 2019-01-16.
  56. Book: Latino election handbook. 1998. NALEO Educational Fund. en.
  57. Web site: Howard. Drew. 2019-02-06. Oakland County Swears in its First Openly-Gay Circuit Court Judge. 2022-02-20. Pride Source. en-US.
  58. Web site: Community servants, high school seniors honored at Great Lakes Bay Regional MLK Celebration. 2014-01-17. mlive. en. 2020-03-16.
  59. Web site: Legal Legend: Judge Damon J. Keith > Detroit Legal News. legalnews.com. 2020-03-04.
  60. Web site: McCree Blazed Legal Trail. October 17, 1990. Detroit Free Press. en. 2019-03-28.
  61. Web site: Former Circuit Court Judge Isidore Torres dies at 73 > Detroit Legal News. 2021-08-11. legalnews.com.
  62. Web site: Recognizing diversity and inclusion at Third Circuit Court: Arab American Heritage Month > Detroit Legal News . 2023-12-19 . legalnews.com.
  63. Web site: Interview with Judge Sam Salamey First Arab American and Muslim Chief Judge of the 19th District Court Mirror News . 2023-12-19 . mirrornews.hfcc.edu.
  64. Web site: Frank H. Wu . 2022-03-16 . UC Hastings Law San Francisco . en-US.
  65. Web site: Elvin Davenport Papers . Walter P. Reuther Library.