George Crockett III facts for kids

Judge George William Crockett III was an important American judge. He served on the Detroit Recorder's Court and later the Wayne County Circuit Court from 1976 to 2003. He was well-known for handling the 1993 Malice Green case. His father, George Crockett Jr., was also a famous civil rights activist, congressman, and judge.

Early Life and Education

George W. Crockett III was born on December 23, 1938, in Fairmont, West Virginia. His parents were George Crockett Jr. and Ethelene Jones Crockett. His mother was a respected doctor and activist. She was also Michigan's first African-American female OB/GYN (a doctor who specializes in women's health). She later became a leader of the American Lung Association.

Crockett finished high school in 1959 at Windsor Mountain School in Lenox, Massachusetts. He then attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, graduating in 1961. While at Morehouse, he took part in a sit-in protest against racial segregation. This was a peaceful way to protest unfair laws. He was arrested for his actions, showing his early commitment to civil rights. In 1964, he earned his law degree from the Detroit College of Law.

A Career in Law

After law school, Crockett began working as a lawyer. He joined his father's law firm in Detroit, Goodman, Crockett, Eden, Robb and Philo. This was one of the first law firms in the country that included lawyers of different races. He also worked with another lawyer, Alphonse Lewis Jr., in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

From 1970 to 1976, Crockett worked at the Legal Aid and Defender Association of Detroit. This organization helps people who cannot afford a lawyer. Many talented lawyers worked there under Myzell Sowell. Sixteen of these lawyers later became judges, showing how important this office was.

In 1977, Crockett was elected as a judge to the Detroit Recorder's Court. For a short time, he served on the same court as his father, who was the Chief Judge. His father later became a member of Congress in 1980. George W. Crockett III continued to serve on the Recorder's Court until it joined with the Wayne County Circuit Court in 1997. He remained a judge there until he retired in 2003.

Crockett was also a member of the Wolverine Bar Association. This group was created by African-American lawyers. They formed it because they were not allowed to join the Michigan Bar Association at the time.

Important Court Case

Judge Crockett became widely known for overseeing a major trial in 1993. This was the case of police officers Walter Budzyn and Larry Nevers. They were accused in the death of Malice Green in 1992. The trial received a lot of attention. It happened after the 1991 Rodney King beating case in Los Angeles. Both cases brought up important questions about police actions.

Assistant Prosecutor Kym Worthy led the team of lawyers for the state. Two different juries found the two police officers responsible for the death. Judge Crockett then decided their sentences.

The case was a big news story and sometimes caused disagreements between the media and the judge. However, Judge Crockett was praised for being fair. Edward Littlejohn, a law professor, said that Crockett's handling of the case helped keep the community calm. He was seen as the right judge for such a difficult case because he was fair to everyone involved.

Later Life and Death

After retiring in 2003, Judge Crockett remained active. He moved to Florida in 2015. He passed away on Friday, July 1, 2016, due to lung cancer.