A. A. Birch Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adolpho A. Birch Jr.
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| Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court |
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| In office October 1994 – August 2001 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | September 22, 1932 Washington, D.C. |
| Died | August 25, 2011 (aged 78) |
| Nationality |  American |
| Profession | lawyer, judge |
Adolpho A. Birch Jr. (born September 22, 1932 – died August 25, 2011) was an important American lawyer and judge. He made history as the first African American to become the Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court. This means he was the top judge in Tennessee's highest court.
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Early Life and Education
Adolpho Birch Jr. was born in Washington, D.C. in 1932. He grew up there, raised by his father, who was an Episcopal priest. His father was a single parent. Young Adolpho learned to be very independent from a young age. He would often find ways to earn small amounts of money on his own.
He went to Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C., and graduated in 1950. After high school, he studied at Lincoln University and then Howard University. At Howard, he earned his law degree in 1956. He also served in the Naval Reserve for two years, from 1956 to 1958.
Starting His Legal Career
After his military service, Birch moved to Nashville. He taught medical law at Meharry Medical College and law at Fisk University and Tennessee State A&I University. While teaching, he also had his own private law practice.
During the early 1960s, a time of big changes for civil rights, Birch volunteered his legal help. He defended civil rights activists who were arrested for taking part in Nashville sit-ins at places that were segregated (meaning Black and white people were kept separate).
In 1963, he became an assistant public defender for Davidson County. A public defender is a lawyer who helps people who cannot afford their own legal help. Later, in 1966, he became an assistant district attorney. A district attorney is a lawyer who works for the government to bring charges against people accused of crimes. He was the first African American to work as a prosecutor in Davidson County.
Becoming a Judge
Adolpho Birch Jr. holds a special place in Tennessee history. He is the only person to have served as a judge at every level of the state's court system.
- In 1969, he was appointed as a General Sessions Court judge in Davidson County. This made him the first African American to hold that position. The next year, he was elected to the judgeship, becoming the first African American judge elected in the county.
- In 1978, he became a Criminal Court Judge. He served in this role until 1987. For a time, he was the main judge overseeing all the trial courts in Davidson County. This was another first for an African American.
- In 1987, he was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Appeals. This court reviews decisions made by lower courts.
- In 1990, he was chosen by voters to join the Tennessee Supreme Court. He was only the second African American to serve on this very important court.
In October 1994, his fellow judges on the Supreme Court chose him to be the Chief Justice. He served in this top role several times, from 1994 to 1996, from 1997 to 1998, and again from 1999 to 2001. He retired from the Supreme Court in 2006.
Awards and Legacy
Adolpho Birch Jr. received many honors for his work and dedication to justice.
- In 1995, he received the William H. Hastie Award from the National Bar Association.
- The international Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity gave him its highest honor, the Barbara Jordan Award.
- In 2010, the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award. They praised his "enduring commitment to equality and justice."
The A. A. Birch Criminal Justice Building in Nashville, which houses the Davidson County Criminal Courts, was named in his honor in 2006. A statue of him is also displayed at the entrance of the Tennessee Supreme Court Building in Nashville.
Adolpho Birch Jr. passed away from cancer in Nashville on August 25, 2011. He was a true pioneer who opened doors for many others and left a lasting impact on the legal system.
See Also
