Hidden Legal Figures

Hidden Legal Figures Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D., Host Terrass Misher, Producer To find out more about Hidden Legal Figures, or to support the podcast, go www.hiddenlegalfigures.com. Be sure to catch REVEALED: BEHIND THE HIDDEN LEGAL FIGURES podcast blog post each Wednesday for more in-depth information about the historical figures in this episode and watch the "What I Learned" video on YouTube each Thursday. Join us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/hidden_legal_figures and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/HLFpodcast Hidden Legal Figures is licensed for the exclusive use of The Arc of Justice Institute, Inc. The Arc of Justice Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public educational institution. Hidden Legal Figures: The Podcast copyright © 2020 by Derrick Alexander Pope. All rights reserved.

The Dred Scott case was the straw that broke the camel’s back. America spent the first half of the nineteenth century grappling with the issue of slavery and how the peculiar institution would be handled. Scott v. Sanford was the culmination of Freedom Suits as slaves who were brought into free territory were taking to the courts to achieve emancipation. The decision of the United States Supreme Court plunged the nation headlong into Civil War and the more important work of setting forth the citizenship rights of African Americans. This episode features the voice talents of Yvonne Godfrey, Esq. as President Abraham Lincoln; Saundra M. Davis, Esq. as Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, and Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D. as President Ulysses S. Grant. Excerpts of dramatic portrayal of Dred Scott and Harriett Scott from "A Bid for Freedom," used by permission from the National Park Service/Gateway Arch National Park. Hidden Legal Figures Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D., Host Terrass Misher, Producer Marvin Cummings, Special Voice Cover To find out more about Hidden Legal Figures, or to support the podcast, go www.hiddenlegalfigures.com. Be sure to catch REVEALED: BEHIND THE HIDDEN LEGAL FIGURES podcast blog post each Wednesday for more in-depth information about the historical figures in this episode and watch the "What I Learned" video on YouTube each Thursday. Join us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/hidden_legal_figures and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/HLFpodcast Hidden Legal Figures is licensed for the exclusive use of The Arc of Justice Institute, Inc. The Arc of Justice Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public educational institution. Hidden Legal Figures: The Podcast copyright © 2020 by Derrick Alexander Pope. All rights reserved.

All the polls have been taken. All the fundraising dollars have been spent. And all the votes have been cast. Do the 2020 elections remind us of an earlier American period? Does it offer lessons we should have learned before? In this episode, we are joined by four special guests to help answer these questions as we connect the past to the present. Stephanie Cho, Executive Director, Asian American Advancing Justice-Atlanta, Bryan Sells, Law office of Bryan Sells, Cheryl Turner, Esq, and Nsé Ufot, Executive Director, The New Georgia Project make up our panel discussion this month to help us figure out what impact the 2020 election will have on the conditions that frame the rights and liberties of everyday citizens. Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D., Host Terrass Misher, Producer To find out more about Hidden Legal Figures, or to support the podcast, go www.hiddenlegalfigures.com. Join us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/hidden_legal_figures and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/HLFpodcast Hidden Legal Figures is licensed for the exclusive use of The Arc of Justice Institute, Inc. The Arc of Justice Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public educational institution. Hidden Legal Figures: The Podcast copyright © 2020 by Derrick Alexander Pope. All rights reserved.

Grandfather clauses, literacy tests, and poll taxes became the tools of disenfranchisement. But all across the nation, lawyers quickly went to work defying the odds to dismantle those efforts. In this episode, we highlight the major cases that were the early attempts to chip away at these pernicious practices. This episode features the voice talents of our host portraying Wilford Horace Smith, the first attorney to challenge voting rights discrimination. Be sure to catch REVEALED: BEHIND THE HIDDEN LEGAL FIGURES podcast blog post each Wednesday for more in-depth information about the historical figures in this episode and watch the "What I Learned" video on YouTube each Thursday. Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D., Host Terrass Misher, Producer To find out more about Hidden Legal Figures, or to support the podcast, go www.hiddenlegalfigures.com. Join us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/hidden_legal_figures and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/HLFpodcast Hidden Legal Figures is licensed for the exclusive use of The Arc of Justice Institute, Inc. The Arc of Justice Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public educational institution. Hidden Legal Figures: The Podcast copyright © 2020 by Derrick Alexander Pope. All rights reserved.

The 1876 Presidential Election marked the official beginning of the end of Reconstruction. Shortly after, many southern states changed their constitutions to set forth legal barriers to the right to vote. Economic insecurity and waves of violence accelerated the national abandonment of the post-civil war goals of full citizenship for the newly emancipated. In this episode, we examine the social, political, and legal forces that hindered a new beginning for the nation. This episode features the voice talents of our host portraying Levi Nelson, one of the survivors of the 1873 Colfax Massacre. Be sure to catch REVEALED: BEHIND THE HIDDEN LEGAL FIGURES podcast blog post each Wednesday for more in-depth information about the historical figures in this episode and watch the "What I Learned" video on YouTube each Thursday. Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D., Host Terrass Misher, Producer To find out more about Hidden Legal Figures, or to support the podcast, go www.hiddenlegalfigures.com. Join us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/hidden_legal_figures and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/HLFpodcast Hidden Legal Figures is licensed for the exclusive use of The Arc of Justice Institute, Inc. The Arc of Justice Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public educational institution. Hidden Legal Figures: The Podcast copyright © 2020 by Derrick Alexander Pope. All rights reserved.

Today we take a break from our regular episodes to remind you that your vote matters. Just like the lawyers we feature, our host is following their example and volunteering today as a lawyer observer at many precincts. We hope all Hidden Legal Figures listeners are registered, active voters, and that you have or will be voting today. Others may have been told to stand by - - but today, you step up! Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D., Host Terrass Misher, Producer To find out more about Hidden Legal Figures, or to support the podcast, go www.hiddenlegalfigures.com. Join us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/hidden_legal_figures and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/HLFpodcast Hidden Legal Figures is licensed for the exclusive use of The Arc of Justice Institute, Inc. The Arc of Justice Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public educational institution. Hidden Legal Figures: The Podcast copyright © 2020 by Derrick Alexander Pope. All rights reserved.

Join us for our first expert panel discussion on contemporary challenges to voting concerns. Panel Participants: Tharon Johnson Tharon Johnson is the founder and CEO of Paramount Consulting Group, a firm specializing in media relations, government affairs and electoral strategy. He has served at senior levels of federal, state and local campaigns, including those for former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Congressman John Lewis and former President Barack Obama. He continues to advise members of Congress and leaders in city and state government. Tharon is frequently quoted in Newsweek, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Politico, Roll Call, The Hill and other publications. He regularly appears as a key contributor on several news channels and television shows, including CNN, as well as Georgia Public Broadcasting’s "Political Rewind" and “Lawmakers," to provide insights and analysis of political developments at the national, state and local levels. In addition to "The Georgia Gang", Tharon is a permanent contributor to WABE’s “Political Breakfast” podcast with Denis O’Hayer. In 2012, Tharon was honored by Georgia Trend magazine as a recipient of their “40 under 40 Award,” recognizing Georgia’s Best and Brightest, and by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as a recipient of their “40 under 40, Atlanta’s Rising Business and Community Leaders Award.” James Magazine named Mr. Johnson one of the top 25 most influential Georgians. Additionally, Politics Magazine named Tharon among the Top 10 Democrats in Georgia, and he was the only African-American to be named a Campaigns & Elections 2010 Rising Star. In addition to his political honors, he was awarded the Unsung Hero award by his alma mater Clark Atlanta University. Brian Robinson Brian Robinson is the owner of Robinson Republic, a communications consulting firm. He previously served as the deputy chief of staff for communications for Gov. Nathan Deal after serving as the communications director during Deal’s 2010 campaign. Robinson was named to the University of Georgia’s 2012 “40 Under 40” class and is an alumnus of the 2015 Leadership Georgia class. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. Robinson and his wife, Corinna, have one daughter. They are members of Peachtree Presbyterian Church and reside in Brookhaven. Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D., Host Terrass Misher, Producer To find out more about Hidden Legal Figures, or to support the podcast, go www.hiddenlegalfigures.com. Join us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/hidden_legal_figures and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/HLFpodcast Hidden Legal Figures is licensed for the exclusive use of The Arc of Justice Institute, Inc. The Arc of Justice Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public educational institution. Hidden Legal Figures: The Podcast copyright © 2020 by Derrick Alexander Pope. All rights reserved.

Should the newly freedmen have the right to vote? Yes, said the Reconstruction Congress, and with the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment, the problem is solved. Or is it? This episode features the outstanding vocal talents of Marvin Cummings portraying John Mercer Langston, Attorney Quintin McGhee portraying Thaddeus Stevens, Attorney Yvonne Godfrey as Maria Chandler and Susan B. Anthony and Attorney Saundra M. Davis portraying Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. Be sure to catch REVEALED: BEHIND THE HIDDEN LEGAL FIGURES podcast blog post each Wednesday for more in-depth information about the historical figures in this episode and watch the "What I Learned" video on YouTube each Thursday. Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D., Host Terrass Misher, Producer To find out more about Hidden Legal Figures, or to support the podcast, go www.hiddenlegalfigures.com. Join us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/hidden_legal_figures and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/HLFpodcast Hidden Legal Figures is licensed for the exclusive use of The Arc of Justice Institute, Inc. The Arc of Justice Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public educational institution. Hidden Legal Figures: The Podcast copyright © 2020 by Derrick Alexander Pope. All rights reserved.

To be readmitted to the Union, states who had been part of the rebellion had to establish new constitutions with protections for the newly freed black people. Georgia held a constitutional convention in 1868 which produced some startling results. David Parker, professor of History at Kennesaw State University sheds some light on Amos T. Ackerman, a lawyer whose work during this era offers important lessons for our present-day challenges. David B. Parker earned his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina in 1988 and his M.A. in 1982. He earned an A.B. degree from Duke University in 1979. He has been a professor at Kennesaw State University since 1993. This episode features the outstanding voice talents of Attorney Saundra M. Davis portraying Maria Carter. Be sure to catch REVEALED: BEHIND THE HIDDEN LEGAL FIGURES podcast blog post each Wednesday for more in-depth information about the current episode and watch the "What I Learned" video on YouTube each Thursday. Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D., Host Terrass Misher, Producer To find out more about Hidden Legal Figures, or to support the podcast, go www.hiddenlegalfigures.com. Join us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/hidden_legal_figures and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/HLFpodcast Hidden Legal Figures is licensed for the exclusive use of The Arc of Justice Institute, Inc. The Arc of Justice Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public educational institution. Hidden Legal Figures: The Podcast copyright © 2020 by Derrick Alexander Pope. All rights reserved.

What’s next now that the war between the states is over? Among the biggest concerns facing the republic is what to do with the newly freed slaves – and how to do it. Black voting rights becomes one of the main goals of the Reconstruction era. In this episode, we uncover the competing legal and political viewpoints that shaped the beginning of Reconstruction and black voting rights. This episode features the voice talents of (in order of appearance): Yvonne Godfrey, Esq. (President Abraham Lincoln) Derrick Alexander Pope (Frederick Douglass) Marvin Cummings (John Mercer Langston) Kerwin D. Sims (Sidney Andrews) Derrick Alexander Pope (President Andrew Johnson) Quinton McGhee, Esq. (Thaddeus Stevens) Be sure to catch REVEALED: BEHIND THE HIDDEN LEGAL FIGURES podcast blog post each Wednesday for more in-depth information about the current episode and watch the "What I Learned" video on YouTube each Thursday. ----------------------------------------- Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D., Host Terrass Misher, Producer To find out more about Hidden Legal Figures, or to support the podcast, go www.hiddenlegalfigures.com. Join us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/hidden_legal_figures and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/HLFpodcast Hidden Legal Figures is licensed for the exclusive use of The Arc of Justice Institute, Inc. The Arc of Justice Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public educational institution. Hidden Legal Figures: The Podcast copyright © 2020 by Derrick Alexander Pope. All rights reserved.

After the Civil War, the nation set about the hard work of correcting the inequities of the political, social, and economic legacy of slavery and to solve the problem of getting the southern states readmitted to the Union. This period of American history is known as Reconstruction. Every social and governing condition that was the subject of protest and discrimination in twentieth (and twenty-first) century America had their roots in this era. Long before the Civil Rights Movement reached its heyday on the national scene, lawyers and judges had already taken the first steps on the journey towards a more perfect union. In Season 2, we explore the legal efforts connected with the four issues from Reconstruction that continue to haunt our national psyche. Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D., Host Terrass Misher, Producer To find out more about Hidden Legal Figures, or to support the podcast, go www.hiddenlegalfigures.com. Join us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/hidden_legal_figures and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/HLFpodcast Hidden Legal Figures is licensed for the exclusive use of The Arc of Justice Institute, Inc. The Arc of Justice Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public educational institution. Hidden Legal Figures: The Podcast copyright © 2020 by Derrick Alexander Pope. All rights reserved.

The deaths of unarmed black people have sparked nationwide demonstration and dialogue. Following in the tradition of the great civil rights lawyers like Thurgood Marshall, Constance Baker Motley, and countless others, there are legal warriors doing battle in courtrooms today and their voices are needed to truly understand where we go from here. Attorneys Mawuli M. Davis, Francys Johnson, and R. Gary Spencer take part in the first installment of our Brothers-in-Law special conversation on race and justice. Guest bios: Mawuli M. Davis is a founding partner of the Davis Bozeman Law Firm where he leads the firm’s Civil Rights Division. He attended the United States Naval Academy, where he played varsity basketball and earned a degree in Political Science. He served in the United States Navy as an officer while earning a Masters in Public Administration from Bowie State University. Attorney Davis is a graduate of Georgia State University(GSU) College of Law and he is recognized as a Super Lawyer, a distinction given to less than 3% of the lawyers practicing in Georgia. As an activist, Attorney Davis is a co-founder of Let Us Make Man. After the acquittal of George Zimmerman, he was one of the primary organizers for the ”Respect Black Life” march of over 5,000 protestors from the Atlanta University Center to CNN which was featured in Ebony magazine. Francys Johnson is a practicing lawyer, public theologian, and educator. He practices criminal and civil law in the state and federal courts in Georgia from his office on Main Street in downtown Statesboro. A graduate of Georgia Southern University and The University of Georgia School of Law, Johnson previously served on the Political Science and Criminal Justice faculties at Georgia Southern University and Savannah State University teaching courses on Criminal Law; Constitutional Law; Race and the law; and the Civil Rights Movement. Today, he is a recognized thought-leader on voting rights having testified before Congress; lecturing across the country and writing on the other subjects including race, measuring equity, and understandings of power in public policy. Previously, Johnson was President of the Georgia NAACP, this state's oldest and largest civil rights organization, following more than two decades of service in a variety of capacities including Southeast Regional Director. R. Gary Spencer has more than 25 years of experience in serving clients in criminal defense, personal injury, wills and probate, and attorney disciplinary actions. He is a member of the State Bars of Georgia, where serves as a member of the Board of Governors, and the State Bar of Florida. He is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. He is a graduate of Howard University and the Howard University School of Law. Support The Podcast: If you enjoy Hidden Legal Figures The Podcast, you can support us by donating here and by leaving a review here. To contact us or learn more about The Arc of Justice Institute, visit: https://onthearc.net/ Podcast Team: Terrass “Razz” Misher, Producer, Podcast on the Go, LLC Mia Mance, Social Media Communications, Mia Talks, LLC Marvin Cummings, Special Voice Talent Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D., Host Find Us On Social: Facebook Twitter Instagram Hidden Legal Figures is licensed for the exclusive use of The Arc of Justice Institute, Inc. The Arc of Justice Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public educational institution. Hidden Legal Figures: The Podcast copyright © 2019-2020 by Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D. All rights reserved.

Description: Special Commentary Episode regarding killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery Support The Podcast: If you enjoy Hidden Legal Figures The Podcast, you can support us by donating here and by leaving a review here. To contact us or learn more about The Arc of Justice Institute, visit: https://onthearc.net/ Podcast Team: Terrass “Razz” Misher, Producer, Podcast-on-the-Go, LLC Mia Mance, Social Media Communications, Mia Talks, LLC Marvin Cummings, Special Voice Talent Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D., Host Find Us On Social: Twitter Instagram Hidden Legal Figures is licensed for the exclusive use of The Arc of Justice Institute, Inc. The Arc of Justice Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public educational institution. Hidden Legal Figures: The Podcast copyright © 20190-2020 by Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D. All rights reserved.

Description: On April 4, 1968, six lawyers came to the aid of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in a Federal District Court in Memphis, Tennessee. We visited W. J. Michael “Mike” Cody - one of the lawyers - in October 2019 at his law office in Memphis and he shared his remembrances of the untold legal efforts that were a big part of that fateful day. For additional reference read, W. J. Michael Cody, King at the Mountaintop: The Representation of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Memphis, April 3-4 1968, 41 U. Mem. L. Rev. 699 (2011). For the transcript of the hearing, visit https://www.tnwd.uscourts.gov/pdf/content/CityOfMemphisVKingTranscript.pdf. To hear the University of Memphis Law School program mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.tnwd.uscourts.gov/MLK50.php Guest Bio: Mike Cody’s practice is presently focused on the mediation and arbitration of complex commercial disputes, as well as commercial litigation, internal investigations, and regulatory matters. Mr. Cody began his practice at the firm in 1961 and, except for his years in public service, has been with Burch, Porter & Johnson since that time. He served as the Attorney General of Tennessee from 1984 to 1988, was the United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee from 1977 to 1981, and served on the Memphis City Council from 1975 to 1977. He has represented major corporations across the United States in a wide variety of litigation and in matters before state attorneys general and regulatory agencies. In 2005, he was appointed to serve as Co-Chair of the Tennessee Commission on Ethics, charged by the Governor of Tennessee with revising state ethics laws. In 2010, Mr. Cody was elected co-chair of the Society of Attorneys General Emeritus or SAGE. One of the founding members of the group, he is only the second co-chair in SAGE's history. Read Full Bio Support The Podcast: If you enjoy Hidden Legal Figures The Podcast, you can support us by donating here and by leaving a review here. To contact us or learn more about The Arc of Justice Institute, visit: https://onthearc.net/ Podcast Team: Terrass “Razz” Misher, Producer, Podcast on the Go, LLC Mia Mance, Social Media Communications, Mia Talks, LLC Marvin Cummings, Special Voice Talent Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D., Host Find Us On Social: Facebook Twitter Instagram Hidden Legal Figures is licensed for the exclusive use of The Arc of Justice Institute, Inc. The Arc of Justice Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public educational institution. Hidden Legal Figures: The Podcast copyright © 2019-2020 by Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D. All rights reserved.

Description: This week, we shine the spotlight on James Weldon Johnson. Many know him as the author of Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing, but Johnson was also a lawyer and Executive Secretary of the NAACP. In September 1925, a black physician purchased a home in an all-white neighborhood in Detroit. On his second night in the home, a mob gathered outside. After the shooting death of one of the members of the mob, Dr. Ossian Sweet and ten members of his family, including his wife, were arrested and charged with murder. In this episode, we take a look at how Johnson used the case to lay the foundation for what would become the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Host Derrick Alexander Pope portrays Johnson and Clarence Darrow. For additional reference read, James Weldon Johnson, Along this Way: The Autobiography of James Weldon Johnson (Penguin Books 1933); Kevin Boyle, Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age (Henry Holt 2004) Excerpts from Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing performed by the Morris Brown College Concert Choir, Glynn E. Halsey, Director, Barbara McNeely-Bouie, Accompanist. Arranged by Roland Harper. (Copyright © 1983). Legal Figure Bio: James Weldon Johnson (June 17, 1871 – June 26, 1938) was an American writer and civil rights activist. He was married to civil rights activist Grace Nail Johnson. Johnson was a leader of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), where he started working in 1917. In 1920, he was the first African American to be chosen as executive secretary of the organization, effectively the operating officer. He served in that position from 1920 to 1930. Johnson established his reputation as a writer and was known during the Harlem Renaissance for his poems, novels, and anthologies collecting both poems and spirituals of black culture. He was appointed under President Theodore Roosevelt as US consul in Venezuela and Nicaragua for most of the period from 1906 to 1913. In 1934 he was the first African-American professor to be hired at New York University. Later in life, he was a professor of creative literature and writing at Fisk University, a historically black university. Support The Podcast: If you enjoy Hidden Legal Figures The Podcast, you can support us by donating here and by leaving a review here. To contact us or learn more about The Arc of Justice Institute, visit: https://onthearc.net/ Podcast Team: Terrass “Razz” Misher, Producer, Podcast-on-the-Go, LLC Mia Mance, Social Media Communications, Mia Talks, LLC Marvin Cummings, Special Voice Talent Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D., Host Find Us On Social: Facebook Twitter Instagram Hidden Legal Figures is licensed for the exclusive use of The Arc of Justice Institute, Inc. The Arc of Justice Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public educational institution. Hidden Legal Figures: The Podcast copyright © 2019-2020 by Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D. All rights reserved.

Description: This week, Mark Curriden completes his discussion of the 1906 saga of Ed Johnson and the lawyer Noah Parden. Guest Bio: Mark Curriden Mark Curriden is a lawyer/journalist and founder of The Texas Lawbook. In addition, he is a contributing legal correspondent for The Houston Chronicle and the Dallas Business Journal. Mark is the author of the best selling book Contempt of Court: A Turn-of-the-Century Lynching That Launched a Hundred Years of Federalism. The book received the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel Award and numerous other honors. He also is a frequent lecturer at bar associations, law firm retreats, judicial conferences, and other events. His CLE presentations have been approved for ethics credit in nearly every state. For the past 25 years, Mark has been a senior contributing writer for the ABA Journal, which is the nation’s largest legal publication. His articles have been on the cover of the magazine more than a dozen times. He has received scores of honors for his legal writing, including the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel Award, the American Judicature Society’s Toni House Award, the American Trial Lawyer’s Amicus Award, and the Chicago Press Club’s Headliner Mark’s book, Contempt of Court, tells the story of Ed Johnson, a young black man from Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1906. Johnson was falsely accused of rape, railroaded through the criminal justice system, found guilty and sentenced to death – all in three weeks. Two African-American lawyers stepped forward to represent Johnson on appeal. In doing so, they filed one of the first federal habeas petitions ever attempted in a state criminal case. The lawyers convinced the Supreme Court of the United States to stay Johnson’s execution. But before they could have him released, a lynch mob, aided by the sheriff and his deputies, lynched Johnson. Angered, the Supreme Court ordered the arrest of the sheriff and leaders of the mob, charging them with contempt of the Supreme Court. It is the only time in U.S. history that the Supreme Court conducted a criminal trial. Noah Walter Parden (c. 1868 – February 23, 1944) was an American attorney and politician who was active in Chattanooga, Tennessee, East St. Louis, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri between 1891 and 1940. In 1906 he became one of the first African-American attorneys to serve as lead counsel in a case before the United States Supreme Court, and he was among the first to make an oral argument before the Court. In 1935 he became the first African American to be appointed to the position of Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, a public office, in St. Louis. For additional reference read, Mark Curriden and Leroy Phillips, Jr., Contempt of Court: The Turn of the Century Lynching that Launched a Hundred Years of Federalism (Anchor Books 1999). Support The Podcast: If you enjoy Hidden Legal Figures The Podcast, you can support us by donating here and by leaving a review here. To contact us or learn more about The Arc of Justice Institute, visit: https://onthearc.net/ Podcast Team: Terrass “Razz” Misher, Producer, Podcast-on-the-Go, LLC Mia Mance, Social Media Communications, Mia Talks, LLC Marvin Cummings, Special Voice Talent Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D., Host Find Us On Social: Facebook Twitter Instagram Hidden Legal Figures is licensed for the exclusive use of The Arc of Justice Institute, Inc. The Arc of Justice Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public educational institution. Hidden Legal Figures: The Podcast copyright © 2019-2020 by Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D. All rights reserved.

Description: In Part 3, Mark Curriden takes us inside the United States Supreme Court as the 1906 saga of the Ed Johnson case makes its way to the nation's highest Court and how Noah Parden and Styles Hitchins made legal history. Legal Figure Bio: Noah Walter Parden (c. 1868 – February 23, 1944) was an American attorney and politician who was active in Chattanooga, Tennessee, East St. Louis, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri between 1891 and 1940. In 1906 he became one of the first African-American attorneys to serve as lead counsel in a case before the United States Supreme Court, and he was among the first to make an oral argument before the Court. In 1935 he became the first African American to be appointed to the position of Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, a public office, in St. Louis. Support The Podcast: If you enjoy Hidden Legal Figures The Podcast, you can support us by donating here and by leaving a review here. To contact us or learn more about The Arc of Justice Institute, visit: https://onthearc.net/ Find Us On Social: Facebook Twitter Instagram Hidden Legal Figures is licensed for the exclusive use of The Arc of Justice Institute, Inc. The Arc of Justice Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public educational institution. Hidden Legal Figures: The Podcast copyright © 2019-2020 by Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D. All rights reserved.

Description: This week we continue our discussion about one of the most important and little-known cases in American history, the case of Ed Johnson, who in 1906 was falsely accused of rape in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Legal Figure Bio: Noah Walter Parden (c. 1868 – February 23, 1944) was an American attorney and politician who was active in Chattanooga, Tennessee, East St. Louis, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri between 1891 and 1940. In 1906 he became one of the first African-American attorneys to serve as lead counsel in a case before the United States Supreme Court, and he was among the first to make an oral argument before the Court. In 1935 he became the first African American to be appointed to the position of Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, a public office, in St. Louis. Support The Podcast: If you enjoy Hidden Legal Figures The Podcast, you can support us by donating here and by leaving a review here. To contact us or learn more about The Arc of Justice Institute, visit: https://onthearc.net/ Podcast Team: Terrass “Razz” Misher, Producer, Podcast-on-the-Go, LLC Mia Mance, Social Media Communications, Mia Talks, LLC Marvin Cummings, Special Voice Talent Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D., Host Find Us On Social: Facebook Twitter Instagram Hidden Legal Figures is licensed for the exclusive use of The Arc of Justice Institute, Inc. The Arc of Justice Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public educational institution. Hidden Legal Figures: The Podcast copyright © 2019-2020 by Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D. All rights reserved.

Description: This week Mark Curriden shares with us the compelling story of a 1906 legal drama that started with a false arrest for rape, a shameful trial that was chock full of abuse and gross injustice, and a lawyer named Noah Parden who along with the United States Supreme Court, made respect for the rule of law a gift to future generations of Americans. Guest Bio: Mark Curriden is a lawyer/journalist and founder of The Texas Lawbook. In addition, he is a contributing legal correspondent for The Houston Chronicle and the Dallas Business Journal. Mark is the author of the best selling book Contempt of Court: A Turn-of-the-Century Lynching That Launched a Hundred Years of Federalism. The book received the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel Award and numerous other honors. He also is a frequent lecturer at bar associations, law firm retreats, judicial conferences and other events. His CLE presentations have been approved for ethics credit in nearly every state. From 1988 to 1994, Mark was the legal affairs writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where he covered the Georgia Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He authored a three-part series of articles that exposed rampant use of drug dealers and criminals turned paid informants by local and federal law enforcement authorities, which led to Congressional oversight hearings. A related series of articles by Mark contributed to a wrongly convicted death row inmate being freed. Mark’s book, Contempt of Court, tells the story of Ed Johnson, a young black man from Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1906. Johnson was falsely accused of rape, railroaded through the criminal justice system, found guilty and sentenced to death – all in three weeks. Two African-American lawyers stepped forward to represent Johnson on appeal. In doing so, they filed one of the first federal habeas petitions ever attempted in a state criminal case. The lawyers convinced the Supreme Court of the United States to stay Johnson’s execution. But before they could have him released, a lynch mob, aided by the sheriff and his deputies, lynched Johnson. Angered, the Supreme Court ordered the arrest of the sheriff and leaders of the mob, charging them with contempt of the Supreme Court. It is the only time in U.S. history that the Supreme Court conducted a criminal trial. Read Mark's Full Bio Support The Podcast: If you enjoy Hidden Legal Figures The Podcast, you can support us by donating here and by leaving a review here. To contact us or learn more about The Arc of Justice Institute, visit: https://onthearc.net/ Podcast Team: Terrass “Razz” Misher, Producer, Podcast-on-the-Go, LLC Mia Mance, Social Media Communications, Mia Talks, LLC Marvin Cummings, Special Voice Talent Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D., Host Find Us On Social: Facebook Twitter Instagram Hidden Legal Figures is licensed for the exclusive use of The Arc of Justice Institute, Inc. The Arc of Justice Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public educational institution. Hidden Legal Figures: The Podcast copyright © 2019-2020 by Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D. All rights reserved.

Description: In this special episode closing out our commemoration of Women's History Month, we pay tribute to Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander, one of the most accomplished lawyers of the twentieth century. In 1918, she became the first woman to earn a Ph.D. (Economics) from the University of Pennsylvania, and in 1927 she was the first woman to receive a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Practicing alongside her husband, Raymond Pace Alexander, also a lawyer, she made significant contributions to the cause of civil rights, most notably with her economic analysis of New Deal Regulations and public works projects, and as a member of the 1947 President's Commission on Civil Rights. Mrs. Alexander, who passed in 1989, was the first national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, serving from 1919 to 1923. Special thanks to Sydney A. Pope for her portrayal of Mrs. Alexander. For additional reference, read Sadie T.M. Alexander, The Best of Times and The Worst of Times, The University of Pennsylvania Law Alumni Journal, 1977; Kenneth W. Mack, Rethinking Civil Rights Lawyering and Politics in the Era before Brown, 115 Yale L.J. 256 (2005); Kenneth W. Mack, Representing the Race: The Creation of the Civil Rights Lawyer (Harvard University Press 2012). Support The Podcast: If you enjoy the Hidden Legal Figures Podcast, you can support us by donating here and by leaving a review here. To contact us or learn more about The Arc of Justice Institute, visit: https://onthearc.net/ Podcast Team: Terrass “Razz” Misher, Producer, Podcast-on-the-Go, LLC Mia Mance, Social Media Communications, Mia Talks, LLC Marvin Cummings, Special Voice Talent Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D., Host Find Us On Social: Twitter Instagram Hidden Legal Figures is licensed for the exclusive use of The Arc of Justice Institute, Inc. The Arc of Justice Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public educational institution. Hidden Legal Figures: The Podcast copyright © 2019-2020 by Derrick Alexander Pope, J.D. All rights reserved.