Honoring the Barristers' Association of Philadelphia on its 60th Anniversary.

WHEREAS, In 1950, attorneys Curtis Carson, Thomas Reed, Arthur Thomas, Charles Wright, and Robert Williams established the Barristers' Association of Philadelphia (“Barristers”) with the purpose of addressing the professional needs and development of Black lawyers in the City of Philadelphia through programs such as seminars, cultural events, and publications; and

WHEREAS, Since its origin, the Barristers have recognized the need and obligation to be a pro-active advocate against injustice and have demonstrated its advocacy through numerous causes including participating in the Liacouras Commission which investigated ways to eliminate racial discrimination in bar admission procedures, filing an action against the Philadelphia Registration Commission which resulted in 50,000 Philadelphians obtaining the right to vote, and lobbying the Pennsylvania General Assembly for the merit selection of judges; and

WHEREAS, In more recent years, the Barristers have sponsored or participated in activities which promoted youth awareness and career opportunities in the legal profession, increased citizens' awareness of their rights under the law, provided scholarships to minority law students to encourage and support more African Americans to pursue law degrees, and organized continuing legal education seminars and political education forums for its members and the general public to facilitate professional development and political awareness; and

WHEREAS, The Barristers encompass a network of approximately 1,000 lawyers and jurists who serve society at the highest positions in both the private and public sectors of the legal profession and the Barristers are an affiliate of the National Bar Association, an organization of practicing African American lawyers, judges, and law students in all 50 states and the District of Columbia; and

WHEREAS, Past presidents of the Barristers include some of Philadelphia's greatest lawyers and jurists including but not limited to Federal judges (A. Leon Higginbotham, Herbert Hutton), Common Pleas judges (Ricardo Jackson, Doris Harris, Kathryn Streeter Lewis, Renee Cardwell Hughes, Brenda Frazier Clemons, Leon Tucker, Elizabeth Jackson), elected officials (State Senator Hardy Williams, City Councilman John C. Anderson), City and legal officials (City Solicitor Stephanie Franklin-Suber, Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor A. Michael Pratt); and

WHEREAS, The Barristers continue to provide a very important and unique role by providing a forum for discussion and public service for its members, people of color, and the Greater Philadelphia community; now therefore, be it,

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor the Barristers' Association of Philadelphia on its 60th Anniversary.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to representatives of the Barristers' Association of Philadelphia as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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