February 1, 1865: John S. Rock becomes the first black lawyer admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States.

John S. Rock was born in 1825 to free parents in Salem, New Jersey.  A talented, enthusiastic student, he became a schoolteacher in 1844. Shortly after, he began studying medicine under two local doctors. Unable to gain admission to the local medical schools due to racism, he switched to dentistry, opening a dental office in Philadelphia in 1850. After achieving acclaim in this field, he was finally admitted to the American Medical College in 1852, becoming one of the first African Americans to earn a medical degree.

In 1853, Rock relocated to Boston and expanded his dental practice to include medicine. He also became very active in the abolitionist movement and was a well-respected, inspiring public speaker. His career path changed yet again after the Supreme Court’s Dred Scott  decision. In 1860, frustrated with the case’s outcome and U.S. laws regarding African Americans, Rock gave up his medical practice to study law.

In 1861, Rock easily passed his law examinations and was admitted to practice.  He quickly opened an office and also became a justice of the peace.  During the Civil War, he was one of the two main recruiters for the black regiments. He also successfully lobbied Congress to grant equal pay to black soldiers. In 1864, he requested the assistance of Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner in becoming admitted to practice before the Supreme Court.  Sumner responded that so long as slavery supporter Roger B. Taney was Chief Justice, no African American would be permitted to argue before the Supreme Court.  However, Taney passed away in 1864 and was replaced with Salmon P. Chase, an abolitionist. Rock took the oath admitting him to practice before the Supreme Court on February 1, 1865, in a ceremony that was covered heavily by the media.  While in Washington, Rock also became the first African American lawyer received on the floor of the House of Representatives.  Rock died of tuberculosis less than two years after his historic accomplishment.

See these sources for additional information about John Rock.

American
Bar Association, Black History Month
2001, Profile – Week 1, John Rock (1825-1866)
Clarence G. Contee, The Supreme Court Bar’s First Black Member

The Research and Writing Program at the University of Arkansas School of Law maintains a blog that highlights writing competitions for law students.  Many of these competitions offer cash prizes but all offer recognition!  The blog also provides links to other writing competition web sites hosted by various law schools.  Something to keep in mind for your winter break . . . and thereafter.

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has just released a Report titled Presidential Transitions: Issues Involving Outgoing and Incoming Administrations.  The report discusses and analyzes a broad array of issues arising as a result of a Presidential transition.  Among other things, the report addresses national security, Presidential records, and personnel and political appointments.  You can access a PDF copy of the 35-page report here.

September 17 is Constitution Day.  Visit the Constitution Day page sponsored by the Administrative Office of the U.S Courts or the Law Library of Congress’s Constitution Day Resources page for more information and related materials.  Visit the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy page and download iCon, the Constitution of the United States for your iPod.

An annual summary of relevant statistics for the Supreme Court’s recently ended term are available at the SCOTUSBlog (see "End of Term ‘Super StatPack’" post).  The categories of compiled statistics include:

1. Summary Memo (New)
2. Justice Agreement
3. Non-unanimous Agreement (New)
4. Decisions by Final Vote
5. Frequency in the Majority
6. Opinion Tally (New)
7. Circuit Scorecard
8. Opinion Authors by Sitting
9. The Court’s Workload
10. Visual Representation of Supreme Court Voting Lineups (New)
11. OT07 Complete Case List (New)
12. Grant Rates by Conference

Professor Roy M. Mersky, the longtime director of the Tarlton Law Library and Jamail Center for Legal Research at The University of Texas School of Law, died May 6, 2008 in Austin after a brief illness. He was 82.  Professor Mersky was also the Visiting Law Librarian at New York Law School from 1982-1984 and was instrumental in creating the excellent Mendik Library that we know today. 

Mersky’s professional career was distinguished by his initiatives and innovation in library services, his advocacy and mentoring of law librarians, his engagement in issues that affect information policy, and his very active leadership and participation in professional associations.  He was an extraordinary leader in the law library community.

The University of Texas has prepared a wonderful memorial tribute to Roy. 
http://www.utexas.edu/law/news/2008/050708_mersky.html

How much do you know about the turkey? Take Aristotle’s Turkey Trivia Quiz and find out.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Stay on top of the NY legal scene with a free subscription to the NYLawyer.com’s Daily Buzz email newsletter. The Daily Buzz provides links to the full text of a variety of NYLawyer.com features, including an advice column covering topics such as finding a new law firm job, career crossroads, and balancing professional and personal lives.  It also includes News Watch, offering the latest stories about salaries, law firms and prominent New York lawyers.

Subscribe to Today in Legal History, a collaborative blog from FindLaw and Justice Talking, which offers a daily legal history fact along with links to related resources.
Source: WisBlawg

TechNet recommends more funding for energy research and innovation, with more visibility and more strategic thought at the federal agency level. It also proposes federal tax policy reform to provide consistency and certainty to consumers and the marketplace. In addition, TechNet supports a technology-neutral Renewable Portfolio Standards and a market-based greenhouse gas emissions system.”

For more information, click on GreenTechReport1.pdf.