Chauncey Eskridge facts for kids

Chauncey Eskridge (born November 11, 1917 – died January 18, 1988) was an American lawyer and judge. He is well-known for helping important figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and boxing champion Muhammad Ali.

Eskridge was a key part of the civil rights movement through his legal work. He also served as a brave pilot during World War II. He was one of the famous Tuskegee Airmen, also known as the "Red Tails."

Early Life and Education

Chauncey Eskridge grew up in Homewood, a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He went to Westinghouse High School. After high school, he attended the Tuskegee Institute, graduating in 1939.

Serving as a Tuskegee Airman

During World War II, Eskridge became a pilot. He was part of the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African-American military pilots. These pilots were known for their courage and skill. Eskridge flew 105 combat missions in Italy.

After the war, Eskridge continued his education. He studied law at John Marshall Law School in Chicago. He finished his law degree in 1949.

Important Legal Cases

Chauncey Eskridge had a very important career as a lawyer. He worked with many key people and organizations during the civil rights era.

Helping Martin Luther King Jr.

In the late 1960s, Eskridge advised the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. This was a major African-American civil rights group. He also worked as the executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Foundation.

Eskridge represented Martin Luther King Jr. in his last court case. This case was called the City of Memphis v. Martin Luther King. Eskridge was with King in Memphis when King was assassinated in April 1968. He helped King get to the hospital. After King's death, Eskridge also helped manage King's family estate.

Representing Muhammad Ali

Eskridge was a vital member of Muhammad Ali's legal team. His most famous case for Ali was Clay v. United States. In this case, Ali was appealing to the Supreme Court of the United States. He wanted to overturn his conviction for refusing to join the United States Army during the Vietnam War.

Ali had been sentenced to five years in jail and a $10,000 fine. Eskridge argued that Ali's refusal was based on his religious beliefs. He explained that Ali was a "conscientious objector," meaning he was against all wars due to his faith. The Supreme Court first voted against Ali. However, they later changed their minds and voted 8–0 in Ali's favor. This decision freed Ali from his conviction.

Later Career and Personal Life

In 1981, Chauncey Eskridge became a judge. He served as an associate judge on the Cook County Circuit Court until 1986.

Family and Community Work

Eskridge married Rosalyn Lindsay. They had two children, Victor Henry Eskridge and Victoria Eskridge Squires.

Eskridge passed away in January 1988. He had been living in Avalon Park at the time.

Beyond his legal work, Eskridge also served on the board of directors for the Amalgamated Trust and Savings Bank starting in 1968. This made him the first African-American director of a bank in Chicago.

Media Portrayals

Chauncey Eskridge's life and work have been shown in several films:

• He was played by Joe Morton in the 2001 movie Ali, which was about Muhammad Ali.
• Chuck Cooper played him in the film Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight. This movie focused on the Clay v. United States Supreme Court case.
• In The Muhammad Ali Story, he was played by Paul Winfield.