Joseph C. Howard Sr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph C. Howard Sr.
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| Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland | |
| In office November 15, 1991 – September 16, 2000 |
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| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland | |
| In office October 5, 1979 – November 15, 1991 |
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| Appointed by | Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | Seat established by 92 Stat. 1629 |
| Succeeded by | Peter Jo Messitte |
| Associate Judge of the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City | |
| In office 1968–1979 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Joseph Clemens Howard
December 9, 1922 Des Moines, Iowa |
| Died | September 16, 2000 (aged 77) Pikesville, Maryland |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Iowa (BA) Morgan State University Drake University (MA, LLB, JD) |
Joseph Clemens Howard Sr. (December 9, 1922 – September 16, 2000) was a very important American judge. He was the first African American to win an election as a judge for the Baltimore City Supreme Bench. Later, President Jimmy Carter chose him to be a United States district judge. This made him the first African American to serve on that court in Maryland.
Contents
Early Life and Military Service
Joseph Howard was born in Des Moines, Iowa. His parents were Charles Preston Howard and Maude L. (Lewis) Howard. His father was a lawyer and helped start the National Bar Association. This group supports African-American attorneys.
Howard joined the U.S. Army and served from 1944 to 1946. During World War II, he led Filipino troops. He also managed a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp. He left the Army as a Captain.
Education and Early Career
After the war, Howard went back to school at the University of Iowa. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1950. Before the war, he had played on the football team. He was the only black player at that time.
Later, at the Drake University Law School, he made history again. He was the first African-American student to join the Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity. He earned his law degree in 1955. He also received a Master of Arts in 1957 and a Doctor of Law in 1968.
Starting His Law Career
In 1959, Joseph Howard moved to Baltimore, Maryland. He passed the Maryland bar exam and became a lawyer. He started a law firm with his brother and John R. Hargrove Sr.. John Hargrove also became a U.S. district judge later.
In 1964, Howard became an assistant state's attorney in Baltimore. He later became the first African-American chief of the trial section. This meant he led many court cases for the state. In 1967, he became an assistant city solicitor.
Becoming a State Judge
Before 1968, most judges in Baltimore were white men. The city of Baltimore had many African-American residents, but few black judges. Joseph Howard decided to run for judge without the governor's support.
He won the election by 8,000 votes. This made him the first African American to be elected to the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City. As a judge, he worked to make sure everyone had a fair chance at jobs in the court system. He helped bring more diversity to the offices.
Serving as a Federal Judge
President Jimmy Carter chose Joseph Howard to be a federal judge in 1979. He was approved by the United States Senate and started his new role on October 5, 1979. He became the first African-American judge for the District of Maryland.
In 1991, he took on a senior status role. This meant he had a reduced workload. He continued to serve until his death in 2000.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1992, Judge Howard was diagnosed with a serious health condition. He passed away on September 16, 2000, in Pikesville, Maryland, at age 77. His funeral was held in Baltimore.
Joseph Howard's work helped open doors for many others. He is remembered for his dedication to fairness and justice.
Written Works
- "Why We Organize" (1971)
- "Employment Practices in the Administration of Justice Under the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City" (1975)
- "Racial Discrimination in Sentencing" (1975)
See also
