List of first minority male lawyers and judges in Michigan

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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[edit]

Patrick Miles: First African American male to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan (2012)

Law degree[edit]

  • First African American male law graduate: Gabriel F. Hargo in 1870[1]

Lawyers[edit]

State judges[edit]

Federal judge[edit]

Assistant Attorney General[edit]

  • First African American male: Harold E. Bledsoe[27]

United States Attorney[edit]

Bar Association[edit]

  • First Jewish American male president: William H. Ellmann[31]
  • First African American male president: Dennis Archer (1970) from 1984-1985[32]

Faculty[edit]

  • First African-American male (University of Michigan Law School professor): Harry T. Edwards (1965) in 1970[33]

Firsts in local history[edit]

  • Bill Baillargeon:[34] First openly gay male judge in Allegan County, Michigan (2010)
  • Oscar W. Baker:[35][36] First African-American male lawyer in Bay City, Michigan [Bay County, Michigan]
  • James Golden (1928):[37] First African American male lawyer in Battle Creek, Michigan [Calhoun County, Michigan]
  • Shelton Penn:[38] First African American male judge in Calhoun County, Michigan (1975)
  • Ollie B. Bivins Jr.:[39] First African American male to serve as a Judge of the Flint Municipal Court (1969) and Genesee County Circuit Court, Michigan (1972)
  • Elisha Scott:[40] First African American male to serve as an administrative judge in Flint, Michigan [Genesee County, Michigan]
  • Claude W. Haywood:[40] First African American male admitted to the Genesee County Bar Association, Michigan
  • William Price III:[40] First African American male to serve as President of the Genesee County Bar Association, Michigan (1970-1971)
  • Stuart Dunnings Jr. (1950):[41][42] First African-American male lawyer in Lansing, Michigan [Ingham, Clinton, and Eaton Counties, Michigan]
  • Stuart Black:[43] First African American judge in Isabella County, Michigan (2018)
  • Charles A. Pratt:[44][45] First African American male judge in Kalamazoo County, Michigan (1968)
  • Leroy Densmore Jr.:[46] First African American male to serve as the Assistant District Attorney in Kalamazoo County, Michigan (c. 1973)
  • Olivier M. Green:[47] First African American male elected as a member of the Grand Rapids Bar Association (1925) [Kent County, Michigan]
  • John T. Letts:[3] First African American male elected as a judge in Kent County, Michigan (1959)
  • Oliver Green:[48] First African-American male lawyer in Pontiac, Michigan (1926) [Oakland County, Michigan]
  • Michael Martinez:[49][50] First Hispanic American male judge in Oakland County, Michigan (2004)
  • Jake Cunningham:[51] First openly LGBT male judge in Oakland County, Michigan (2019)
  • Terry L. Clark:[52] First African American male judge in Saginaw County, Michigan
  • Harry B. Keidan:[11] First Jewish American male appointed as a Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit in Michigan (1927) [Wayne County, Michigan]
  • Damon J. Keith:[53] First African American male lawyer for the Wayne County Friend of the Court (1959)
  • Wade McCree Jr.:[54] First African American male appointed as a Judge of the Wayne County Circuit Court in Michigan
  • Isidore Torres:[55] First Latino American male judge in Wayne County, Michigan (1983)
  • James Rashid:[56] First Arab American male to serve as a Judge on the Third Circuit Court (1986)
  • Sam Salamey:[57] First Arab American male to serve as a Judge of the 19th District Court (2023) [Dearborn, Wayne County, Michigan]
  • Frank H. Wu:[58] First Asian American male to serve as the Dean of Wayne State University Law School (2004)
  • Elvin L. Davenport:[59] First African American male elected as a Judge of the Common Pleas Court for the City of Detroit (1956) and later the Recorder’s Court for the City of Detroit (1957) [Wayne County, Michigan]
  • M. John Shamo:[56] First Arab American male elected as a Criminal Judge of the Detroit Recorder's Court (1981) [Wayne County, Michigan]

See also[edit]

Other topics of interest[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Gabriel Hargo, LLB'1870". Alumni Association of the University of Michigan. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
  2. ^ Smith, J. Clay Jr. (1999-01-01). Emancipation: The Making of the Black Lawyer, 1844-1944. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 0812216857.
  3. ^ a b Littlejohn, Edward J. (May 2015). "Michigan Black Lawyers' "Firsts"" (PDF). Michigan Bar Journal.
  4. ^ Thomas, Lee (2020-02-03). "In 1890 David Augustus Straker fought for everyone to be served in public". FOX 2 Detroit. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  5. ^ Bogen, David S. (2007). "Why the Supreme Court Lied in Plessy". Villanova Law Review.
  6. ^ Tamura, Eileen (1994-01-01). Americanization, Acculturation, and Ethnic Identity: The Nisei Generation in Hawaii. University of Illinois Press. p. 241. ISBN 9780252063589. first japanese american lawyer arthur ozawa.
  7. ^ Gall, Susan B. (1995). The Asian-American Almanac: A Reference Work on Asians in the United States. Gale Research. ISBN 978-0-8103-9193-2.
  8. ^ Wilkinson, Sook (2015-04-01). Asian Americans in Michigan: Voices from the Midwest. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 978-0-8143-3974-9.
  9. ^ "Michigan's first Muslim lawyer, Michael Berry of Dearborn, dies at 95". MLive.com. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
  10. ^ "Arab-American pioneer Michael Berry dies | Times-Herald and Sunday Times Newspapers". downriversundaytimes.com. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
  11. ^ a b "Portrait unveiled of Third Circuit Court judge > Detroit Legal News". legalnews.com. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
  12. ^ Finkelstein, Jim (1991-11-26). "Wayne County judge's post inspired Greek Americans". Detroit Free Press. p. 10. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  13. ^ Gavrilovich, Peter; McGraw, Bill (2006). The Detroit Almanac: 300 Years of Life in the Motor City. Detroit Free Press. ISBN 9780937247488.
  14. ^ National Bar Association Magazine. The Association. 1989.
  15. ^ Littlejohn, Edward J.; Hobson, Donald L. (1987). Black Lawyers, Law Practice, and Bar Associations--1844 to 1970: A Michigan History. Wolverine Bar Association.
  16. ^ Levin, Doron P. (1994-06-30). "Otis Smith, 72, G.M. Executive And Ex-Justice". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  17. ^ Annual Report. Civil Rights Commission. 1973.
  18. ^ Hightower, Brendel. "Adam Shakoor, first Muslim judge and attorney who represented Rosa Parks, dies". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  19. ^ "Conrad Mallett, Jr". www.micourthistory.org. Retrieved 2019-07-22.
  20. ^ "Hon. Conrad Mallett, Jr. portrait presented > Ingham County Legal News". www.legalnews.com. Retrieved 2019-07-22.
  21. ^ "SADO - Article - Rudolph "Rudy" Serra". www.sado.org. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  22. ^ "Justice Richard Bernstein". courts.mi.gov. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  23. ^ "Blind Judge Makes History, Joins Michigan's Supreme Court". Huffington Post. 2014-12-28. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  24. ^ "Retired Bankruptcy Judge". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  25. ^ Ap (1987-04-01). "HARRY G. HACKETT". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  26. ^ Gardey, Rosemary Wummel (April 2001). "Judicial Profile: Hon. George Caram Steeh III, U.S. District Judge, Eastern District of Michigan" (PDF). Federal Bar Association.
  27. ^ "Harold Bledsoe dies in Detroit". The Pittsburgh Courier. April 13, 1974. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
  28. ^ Writer, ROBERT A. FRAHM; Courant Staff (30 March 2003). "ATTRIBUTING SUCCESS TO RACE POLICY". courant.com. Retrieved 2019-01-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ Eggert, David (2017-09-28). "Ex-US attorney Miles running for Michigan attorney general". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2019-01-06.
  30. ^ "Ex-US attorney Miles running for Michigan attorney general". TheOaklandPress.com. Retrieved 2019-01-06.
  31. ^ "In Memorium - William H. Ellmann" (PDF). ALRA Advisor. March 2002.
  32. ^ Upward Moves on the Legal Front. Johnson Publishing Company. October 1985.
  33. ^ WeedyGarden.net, Erik Runyon |. "Hon. Harry T. Edwards | UCI Law". www.law.uci.edu. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  34. ^ Hunt, Sarah Bricker (2022-08-09). "For the First Time Ever, This Tiny Town in Michigan Will Have a Pride Festival". Pride Source. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  35. ^ Kusmierz, Marvin. "Heritage: Oscar W. Baker". Bay Journal. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  36. ^ First Negro Heads State Trial Lawyers Group. Johnson Publishing Company. 1968-07-18.
  37. ^ "Remembering Battle Creek's black trailblazers". Battle Creek Enquirer. Retrieved 2019-03-06.
  38. ^ Christenson, Trace (20 February 2010). "Foundation honors county's first black judge". Battle Creek Enquirer. p. A.8. ProQuest 443449648.
  39. ^ Mullen, Roneisha D. (31 January 2008). "Ollie B. Bivins Jr.: Georgia native ruled with passion in two Genesee County courts". MLive.com. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  40. ^ a b c "History". www.gcbalaw.org. Retrieved 2019-01-06.
  41. ^ "Stuart Dunnings III loses law license". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  42. ^ "Stuart J. Dunnings Jr.'s Obituary". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  43. ^ Norton, Mindy (7 November 2018). "Black elected Isabella County probate judge". TheMorningSun.com. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
  44. ^ "James Liggins moves to Warner, will remain in Kalamazoo as it hosts national mock trial tourney > Grand Rapids Legal News". legalnews.com. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  45. ^ "The Judge Charles A. Pratt Bar Association | Bar Association | Lawyer". Scribd. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  46. ^ "Leroy Densmore Jr. : December 15, 2016 | Kalamazoo, MI". www.lifestorynet.com. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  47. ^ Jelks, Randal Maurice (2006). African Americans in the Furniture City: The Struggle for Civil Rights in Grand Rapids. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 9780252073472.
  48. ^ "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. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  49. ^ "Hispanic attorney appointed to bench". The Oakland Press. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  50. ^ Latino election handbook. NALEO Educational Fund. 1998.
  51. ^ Howard, Drew (2019-02-06). "Oakland County Swears in its First Openly-Gay Circuit Court Judge". Pride Source. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  52. ^ "Community servants, high school seniors honored at Great Lakes Bay Regional MLK Celebration". mlive. 2014-01-17. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
  53. ^ "Legal Legend: Judge Damon J. Keith > Detroit Legal News". legalnews.com. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
  54. ^ "McCree Blazed Legal Trail". Detroit Free Press. October 17, 1990. Retrieved 2019-03-28.
  55. ^ "Former Circuit Court Judge Isidore Torres dies at 73 > Detroit Legal News". legalnews.com. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  56. ^ a b "Recognizing diversity and inclusion at Third Circuit Court: Arab American Heritage Month > Detroit Legal News". legalnews.com. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  57. ^ "Interview with Judge Sam Salamey First Arab American and Muslim Chief Judge of the 19th District Court | Mirror News". mirrornews.hfcc.edu. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  58. ^ "Frank H. Wu". UC Hastings Law | San Francisco. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  59. ^ "Elvin Davenport Papers" (PDF). Walter P. Reuther Library.
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