Contrary to the words of the Constitution that “all men are created equal,” in the real world, some men may be more equal than others. However, laws are meant to regulate people’s behavior and create a level field so that all men are created equal under the law. Often times, men apply the law unevenly leaving others to execute, interpret and modify their misapplications. (There is a vast and distinct difference between natural laws and man-made laws—rules to govern and live by). Laws that are meant to protect society are sometimes used against those they are designed to protect. Laws have been used to enslave, discriminate, oppress and keep Blacks and others in check—legally and then residually, in the form of institutional racism. However, throughout the history of this nation men and women have stood up, and have used the law to change society’s landscape by forcing America to do, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. exhorted, “live up to its creed that all men are created equal.”

Such is the distinguished group of Black lawyers—men and women—who specialize in all areas of law and are always on call to make the best deal and/or keep their clients out of trouble. They have scaled many legal mountains to reach the top of the legal profession. Some became lawyers who made their marks in courtroom settings; some gravitated to legislatures; and others have done both.

Before Thurgood Marshall became the first Black to be appointed an associated justice to the United States Supreme Court, he was the greatest constitutional lawyer in the nation—having won over 20 cases before the U. S. Supreme Court. He led the first dream team in 1954 before the nation’s highest court along with two other Black attorneys, George C. Hayes and James Nabrit. They argued the Brown case before the court, that ended with the landmark decision legally outlawing discrimination and segregation: “Brown vs the Topeka Board of Education” which broke down barriers that were installed by over two centuries of racism and legal discrimination that were institutionalized by “Dred Scott vs Sandford” and “Plessy vs Ferguson.”

Walking in the footsteps of Justice Marshall, he practiced law in the courtroom, he taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago School of Law, and as a legislator in the State of Illinois and the U. S. Senate, he authored laws. He is presently the leading contender of the Democratic Party for the nomination to be the President of the U. S.—Senator Barack Obama.

LAWYERS

John M. Langston was the first African American to be admitted to the Ohio Bar Association in 1853 after being rejected by one of the local law schools. He was also admitted to the Virginia State Bar and went on to establish the Howard University Law School serving as its first dean. The John M. Langston Bar Association is named in his honor.

Charles H. Houston did not live to see the fruits of his 20-year campaign come to pass but it was his labor that culminated in the Brown decision. He was Thurgood Marshall’s mentor and his name is presently memorialized in the Charles Houston Institute that is directed by another legal scholar Professor Charles Ogletree.

 Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. will forever be remembered as the lead attorney of the “Dream Team” in the Trial of the Century. But his work as a fighter for the “oppressed” and the “underdog” started before that legal victory and exploded exponentially after that trial. He mentored legions of young legal minds that have followed in his footsteps fighting for the oppressed and the under-dog. In reference to his constant struggle against police misconduct, Cochran said, “The official version (of an event) is not always the true version.” Carl Douglas and Shawn Chapman Holley were two of Cochran’s associates who paved the way for him to “operate” in the trial of the century, and have since gone on to achieve legal victories of their own.

Samuel Williams was the first Black to serve as the president of the California Bar Association; he was also a police commissioner by Mayor Bradley and he also served vice president of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and was actively involved in the legal community

Melanie Lomax was a civil rights attorney and president of the Los Angeles Police Commission. After graduating from law school, she began working for the Los Angeles County counsel focusing on labor and civil law. She founded her firm specializing in age, sex and racial discrimination.

Robert H. McNeill Jr., along with Rickey Ivie and Keith Wyatt are the managing partners of Ivie, McNeill & Wyatt, one of the California’s largest and most prestigious African American law firms that specialize in an extensive array of quality legal services. With over 25 years as a legal practitioner, McNeill was selected in 2006 as one of California’s top 100 attorneys.

Charles E. Lloyd was the first African American trial deputy in the criminal division of the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office. He partnered with Mayor Bradley as Bradley, Burrell & Lloyd and eventually became one of Los Angeles’ most renowned criminal attorneys.

Leo Branton Jr. was not only the chief counsel in the People vs Angela Davis trial, but his clients made up A-list of Black Hollywood including Nat “King” Cole, Dorothy Dandridge and Brock Peters. Branton was well known as a litigator and was deeply involved in the civil rights movement having also defended the L.A. Chapter of the Black Panther Party against the L.A. Police Department.

Published in : News, Special Feature