Damon Keith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Damon Keith
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit | |
| In office May 1, 1995 – April 28, 2019 |
|
| Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit | |
| In office October 21, 1977 – May 1, 1995 |
|
| Appointed by | Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | Wade H. McCree |
| Succeeded by | Richard Allen Griffin |
| Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan | |
| In office December 13, 1975 – November 22, 1977 |
|
| Preceded by | Frederick William Kaess |
| Succeeded by | Cornelia Groefsema Kennedy |
| Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan | |
| In office October 12, 1967 – November 22, 1977 |
|
| Appointed by | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Preceded by | Thomas Patrick Thornton |
| Succeeded by | Patricia Boyle |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Damon Jerome Keith
July 4, 1922 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | April 28, 2019 (aged 96) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Education | West Virginia State University (BA) Howard University School of Law (LLB) Wayne State University Law School (LLM) |
Damon Jerome Keith (July 4, 1922 – April 28, 2019) was an important U.S. federal judge. He served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and was also a judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Judge Keith was known for his strong belief in civil rights and fairness for everyone. He continued to serve as a judge until he passed away at age 96.
Contents
Becoming a Judge: Damon Keith's Journey
Early Life and School Days
Damon Keith was born and grew up in Detroit, Michigan. He finished Northwestern High School in 1939. After high school, he went to West Virginia State College. He earned his first degree there in 1943.
Serving His Country and Continuing Education
From 1943 to 1946, Keith served in the United States Army. After his military service, he continued his education. He earned a law degree from Howard University School of Law in 1949. Later, he received another advanced law degree from Wayne State University Law School in 1956.
Starting His Legal Career
Keith worked as a private lawyer in Detroit from 1950 to 1967. He also worked for the Office of the Friend of the Court in Detroit. In 1964, he became a leader of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission. This was a very important time, especially after the Detroit events of 1967. He played a key role in helping the city through these big changes.
Family Life
Damon Keith married Rachel Boone in 1953. They had three daughters together. Rachel passed away in 2007. Judge Keith died at his home in Detroit in 2019 due to health issues.
Damon Keith's Time as a Federal Judge
Appointed to the District Court
In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson chose Damon Keith to be a judge. He joined the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The United States Senate approved his appointment, and he started his work on October 12, 1967. He became the Chief Judge of this court in 1975.
Moving to the Court of Appeals
President Jimmy Carter then nominated Judge Keith for a higher position. In 1977, he became a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. This court hears appeals from district courts. He officially started this role on October 21, 1977. In 1995, he took on a special role called senior status. This allowed him to continue serving the court in a reduced capacity.
Awards and Recognitions
Judge Keith received many honors for his work.
- In 1974, he was given the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP. This award recognizes outstanding achievements by African Americans.
- He was also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
- In 2008, Harvard University gave him an honorary law degree.
Important Court Cases by Judge Keith
Judge Keith made many important decisions that helped shape American law.
Protecting Privacy: United States v. Sinclair (1971)
In this famous case, Judge Keith ruled against the government. The government had been listening to people's phone calls (called wiretaps) without getting a special permission from a court, known as a search warrant. Judge Keith said this was wrong. He ruled that the government must get a warrant before wiretapping. This decision was upheld by higher courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. This case is often called "the Keith case." It led to a new law in 1978, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which sets rules for government surveillance.
Open Courts: Detroit Free Press v. Ashcroft (2002)
Judge Keith also played a key role in a case about keeping court hearings open to the public. After the September 11 attacks, the government decided to close some deportation hearings to the public and media. These were called "special interest" cases. Judge Keith, writing for the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, said that closing these hearings completely was against the Constitution. He believed that court proceedings should be open so the public can see what is happening. This ruling helped ensure transparency in the justice system.
People Who Worked with Judge Keith
Many talented people worked for Judge Keith as law clerks. These are often young lawyers who learn from experienced judges. Some of his former clerks went on to become very successful themselves:
- Jennifer Granholm, who became the Governor of Michigan. Judge Keith even gave her the oath of office twice.
- Lani Guinier, the first African-American woman to become a tenured professor at Harvard Law School.
- Judge Eric L. Clay, who later served alongside Judge Keith on the U.S. Court of Appeals.
- Jocelyn F. Benson, who is now the Michigan Secretary of State.
- Rashad Hussain, who served as a U.S. representative to the Organisation of Islamic Conference.
Judge Keith's Legacy
Judge Keith's work and papers are kept at the Walter P. Reuther Library. These materials show his important court decisions and his dedication to equal rights for everyone. His life story was also told in a film called "Walk with Me: The Trials of Damon J. Keith." He also left money to a scholarship fund at West Virginia State University to help future students.
See also
