Wikipedia

List of first minority male lawyers and judges in Pennsylvania

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

Firsts in Pennsylvania's history

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Jonathan Jasper Wright: First African American male lawyer in Pennsylvania (1865)
 
Eduardo C. Robreno: First Cuban American male Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (1992)

Lawyers

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State judges

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Federal judges

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  • First African American male (United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania): A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. (1952) in 1964[33]
  • First African American male (United States District Court of the Western District of Pennsylvania): Paul Allen Simmons (1949) in 1978[34]
  • First Cuban American male (United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania): Eduardo C. Robreno (1978) in 1992[30]
  • First African American male (Chief Judge; United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania): Gary L. Lancaster (1974) in 2009[35]
  • First Hispanic American male (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit): Luis Felipe Restrepo (1986) in 2016[36]
  • First Latino American male (Chief Judge; United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania): Juan Ramon Sanchez (1981) in 2018[37][38]

District Attorney

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Political Office

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  • Daniel Anders:[41] First openly LGBT male (a lawyer) to run for public office and win a judicial seat in Pennsylvania (2007)
  • Brian Sims (2004):[42] First openly LGBT male (a lawyer) elected as a state legislator in Pennsylvania (2012)

Pennsylvania Bar Association

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  • First Jewish male president: Gilbert "Ott" Nurick in 1967[43]
  • First Puerto Rican male admitted: Nelson A. Diaz (1972)[12][13]
  • First African American male president: Michael H. Reed from 2004 to 2005[44]

Firsts in local history

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See also

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Other topics of interest

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References

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  1. ^ a b Peters, Madison Clinton (1915). The Jews who Stood by Washington: An Unwritten Chapter in American History. Trow Press. p. 22.
  2. ^ a b Kurtz, Seymour (1985). Jewish America. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 9780070356559.
  3. ^ a b Encyclopaedia Judaica. Macmillan. 1971.
  4. ^ a b Sloan, Irving J. (1978). The Jews in America, 1621-1977: A Chronology & Fact Book. Oceana Publications. ISBN 9780379005301.
  5. ^ Smith, J. Clay Jr. (1999-01-01). Emancipation: The Making of the Black Lawyer, 1844-1944. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 0812216857.
  6. ^ Wright would later practice in South Carolina and become the first African American male appointed as a Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court (1870).
  7. ^ The Indian's Friend. Women's National Indian Association. 1905.
  8. ^ a b c Representatives, Pennsylvania General Assembly House of (1965). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: Legislative Directory, [House of Representatives]. House of Representatives of Pennsylvania.
  9. ^ a b c Outlook for the Blind. American Foundation for the Blind. 1949.
  10. ^ The Pennsylvania Lawyer. Pennsylvania Bar Association. 2003-01-01.
  11. ^ "Latina in charge of the PBA". AL DÍA News. 2017-07-17. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
  12. ^ a b c "Honorable Nelson A. Diaz". Dilworth Paxson LLP.
  13. ^ a b c Timpane, John (3 October 2018). "Nelson Díaz on a lifetime of being 'the first Latino'". The Inquirer. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
  14. ^ a b "Our History". Hispanic Bar Association of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  15. ^ "1st Filipino to pass the PA Bar Exam without studying law in the U.S." The FilAm. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  16. ^ McCrystal, Laura (11 December 2020). "A former Philly homicide prosecutor fired by District Attorney Larry Krasner is challenging him for reelection". Inquirer. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
  17. ^ Wereschagin, Mike (21 October 2011). "Social worker Thelma Lovette honored as building block of Hill". McClatchy-Tribune Business News. ProQuest 899289120.
  18. ^ a b Mack, Kenneth W. (May 2012). Representing the Race. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-06530-7.
  19. ^ "Legends of the Bar". www.philadelphiabar.org. Retrieved 2019-01-17.
  20. ^ "History of Firsts & Other Distinctions" (PDF). Lincoln University.
  21. ^ Chenault, Renee (January 1, 1981). "Pennsylvanians on the Bench: Profiles of Black Judges" (PDF). Black Law Journal.
  22. ^ a b Haddon, Phoebe A. (Fall 2010). "A Public Calling: Lessons from the Lives of Judge of Color in Pennsylvania". Temple Political & Civil Rights Law Review. 20 (1).
  23. ^ Ferrick-Roman, Karen (2012). "The Fighting Judge Michael Musmanno". National Italian American Bar Association. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  24. ^ "R. P. Alexander, 76, Philadelphia Judge". The New York Times. 1974-11-25. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  25. ^ "Theodore O. Spaulding". The New York Times. 1974-09-12. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  26. ^ a b "R. N. C. Nix Jr., 75, Groundbreaking Judge". The New York Times. Associated Press. 2003-08-26. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  27. ^ Yuan, Winston. "Marutani Fellowship". www.apaba-pa.org. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
  28. ^ Muto, David (2016-11-17). "An Unsung Hero in the Story of Interracial Marriage". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
  29. ^ "Finding aid for the William M. Marutani Papers". www.oac.cdlib.org. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
  30. ^ a b "The Indomitable Emigre: Judge Eduardo C. Robreno - Law360". www.law360.com. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  31. ^ "Anders Appointed Supervising Judge of FJD Civil Division". The Legal Intelligencer. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  32. ^ a b "First openly-gay minority judge in Pennsylvania celebrates making history". 6abc Philadelphia. 2022-04-25. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  33. ^ Gates, Henry Louis Jr. "Who Were the 1st Black Federal Court Judges?". The Root. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
  34. ^ "Obituary: Paul A. Simmons / First black federal judge in area known as trailblazer". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  35. ^ "Obituary: Gary L. Lancaster / First black chief judge in U.S. court here". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  36. ^ "After 14 months, Senate finally approves Phila. judge". Philly.com. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  37. ^ a b Eagle, Reading (2018-08-02). "New chief judge named for U.S. District Court". Reading Eagle. Retrieved 2019-01-29.
  38. ^ a b "Chester County Judge Sanchez joins the federal bench in Pa". The Philadelphia Inquirer. July 10, 2004. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  39. ^ "Before Krasner: The Wild and Wooly Saga of Philadelphia District Attorneys | Blog | Independent Lens | PBS". Independent Lens. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  40. ^ "Seth Williams becomes D.A., makes Philadelphia history | Philadelphia Inquirer | 01/04/2010". 2010-01-07. Archived from the original on 2010-01-07. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  41. ^ "Mazzoni Center Legal Services Honors Two Trailblazing Philadelphia Judges and the Firm of Dechert LLP at 4th Annual Open Bar Event". Mazzoni Center. 2013-03-11. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  42. ^ "Pennsylvania Set To Elect First Openly Gay State Lawmaker". HuffPost. 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  43. ^ "Gilbert "Ott" Nurick - Legacy Hall | Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg". jewishharrisburg.org. Retrieved 2019-01-07.
  44. ^ "Michael Reed". www.alumni.temple.edu. Retrieved 2019-01-04.
  45. ^ "African-American Judges of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas". Duquesne University School of Law. 2014-10-31. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
  46. ^ "First Black Public Defender promises new direction". New Pittsburgh Courier. 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  47. ^ "Activist Thelma Lovette, 91, looks back on a full life". infoweb.newsbank.com. February 24, 2008. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  48. ^ Sheleheda, Christina. "Beaver County's first black judge to be honored at NAACP banquet". The Times. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  49. ^ "The Honorable C. Gus Kwidis, 1st Greek-American Judge in Beaver County, 78". The National Herald. April 19, 2023.
  50. ^ "Altoona Tribune". Altoona, Pennsylvania. June 25, 1928. p. 12. Retrieved 2018-02-16 – via Newspapers.com.
  51. ^ "A HISTORY OF BLAIR COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA". 1931.
  52. ^ FM, Player. "Judge Clyde Waite: Bucks County's First African American Judge What's Your Legacy? podcast". player.fm. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  53. ^ Times, MICHAEL P. RELLAHAN, Special to the. "Ex-Chesco judge now top fed judge for Eastern Pa". The Delaware County Daily Times. Retrieved 2020-03-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  54. ^ "Editorial: Justice for Alexander McClay Williams". Retrieved 2017-09-24.
  55. ^ a b Blumenthal, Jeff (June 3, 2016). "Villanova names first African American law school dean". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
  56. ^ Lohr, Ty (3 March 2022). "Early Edition for 3/3: All county schools now mask-optional, Cajun restaurant comes to Lancaster city and more". LancasterOnline. ProQuest 2635483371.
  57. ^ "Noteworthy Pocono deaths in 2012". poconorecord.com. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  58. ^ Gibbons, Margaret. "Montco welcomes new judge to bench". The Intelligencer. Retrieved 2019-01-17.
  59. ^ Fotikfoti, Kaitlyn. "Montgomery County swears in first openly gay judge". Montgomery News. Retrieved 2018-11-16.
  60. ^ Gibbons, Margaret. "Ferman gets most votes for judge's robe in Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas race". The Intelligencer. Retrieved 2018-11-16.
  61. ^ "Quilt show to honor famous Western New Yorker". The Daily News. Retrieved 2018-12-17.
  62. ^ Societies, Pennsylvania Federation of Historical (1917). Acts and Proceedings ... Annual Meeting. Harrisburg Publishing Company.
  63. ^ Thomas, Robert McG. Jr. (1997-06-05). "Bernard G. Segal Dies at 89; Lawyer for Rich and Poor". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  64. ^ "Carl E. Singley | PA & FL Law Firm". Tucker Law Group. Retrieved 2022-03-15.
  65. ^ "Book celebrates York County's historic legal luminaries". The York Daily Record. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
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