Julian Pierce facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Julian Thomas Pierce
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| Born | January 2, 1946 |
| Died | March 25/26, 1988 (aged 42) |
| Alma mater | Pembroke State College (B.S.) North Carolina Central University (J.D.) Georgetown University (Master of Laws) |
| Occupation | chemist, attorney |
Julian Thomas Pierce (January 2, 1946 – March 25/26, 1988) was an American lawyer and a leader for the Lumbee people. He was born in Hoke County, North Carolina. Julian was the first person in his family to go to college. He worked as a chemist for several years before becoming a lawyer.
After law school, he worked for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Later, he moved to Robeson County, North Carolina. There, he led a group that gave legal aid to people who couldn't afford a lawyer. He also helped write a request for the Lumbee tribe to be officially recognized by the federal government. In 1988, he decided to run for a new judge position. He was found dead in his home just weeks before the election. Many of his friends and family believe he was killed for political reasons.
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Early Life and Education
Julian Pierce was born on January 2, 1946, in Hoke County, North Carolina. His parents, John and Mary Pierce, were Lumbee tenant farmers. They had moved to North Carolina from South Carolina. Julian was one of 13 children in his family.
He went to Antioch Elementary School. Then he attended Hawkeye Elementary and High School. He graduated from high school in 1962 when he was 16 years old. After that, he went to Pembroke State College in Pembroke, North Carolina. In 1966, he earned a degree in Chemistry. Julian was the first person in his family to get a college degree. He later married and had three children, but he and his wife eventually separated.
Career Journey
Julian Pierce started his career as a chemist. After college, he worked for Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia. There, he worked with chemical tools and tested quality. He also helped clean up nuclear reactors. In 1969, he became a chemist for the U.S. Navy Shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia. He did similar work there.
In 1973, Pierce returned to North Carolina. He enrolled at the North Carolina Central University School of Law. After finishing law school in 1976, he became a lawyer for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C.. He mostly wrote legal papers for the commission. Sometimes, he also represented them in court. While working there, he studied at Georgetown University Law Center. He earned a Master of Laws degree in Taxation.
Helping His Community
In 1978, Julian Pierce moved to Robeson County, North Carolina. He became the first director of Lumbee River Legal Services. This new group offered legal help to people who were poor in Robeson and nearby counties. He worked there for ten years.
In 1981, he helped people sue the Lumberton City School Board. He argued that the school system's actions violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965. A court decided that the city board needed approval from the U.S. Department of Justice for its actions.
Pierce also deeply studied laws about federal recognition of Native American tribes. The Lumbee people were the largest group of Native Americans living east of the Mississippi River. North Carolina had recognized them as a tribe since the 1880s. However, they had never received full federal recognition.
In 1987, Pierce and three others wrote a request. They asked the United States Department of the Interior to officially recognize the Lumbee people as a tribe. This request was denied because of a law from 1956. The group then suggested a new bill for Congress to pass. But it did not pass because of opposition from the Department of the Interior and other recognized tribes.
Running for Judge
In 1987, North Carolina created new judge positions. One of these was for Robeson County. This was meant to give minority candidates a better chance to become judges. Joe Freeman Britt, the county's district attorney, decided to run for this position. Britt was known for his tough approach in serious criminal cases.
In January 1988, Julian Pierce announced he would run against Britt. This was the first time anyone had challenged the district attorney in an election. Pierce left his job at Lumbee River Legal Services to focus on his campaign. He promised to be a "hard but fair judge." The county sheriff, Hubert Stone, tried to convince Pierce not to run. He said he preferred not to have a big fight in the election. But Pierce refused to drop out.
Pierce's campaign workers were worried about his safety. One worker told him that sheriff's deputies were watching him. His campaign manager even urged him to get a bodyguard. But Pierce said no. He explained, "If it happens then it happens—they can kill me but they can't eat me."
Julian Pierce's Death
On the morning of March 26, 1988, Julian Pierce was found dead in his home. This was just a few weeks before the election. There were no signs that someone had forced their way in or stolen anything. About 200 Lumbee people gathered at the scene. Sheriff Stone asked for their help. He also told a reporter that Pierce's death seemed like a political killing.
Pierce's briefcase, which reportedly held papers about corruption in the county government, was missing. Also, the sheriff's office radio recordings from the night of March 25/26 were gone. An autopsy report mentioned that Pierce had written a note, but officials never showed it.
The reasons behind Pierce's death are still unclear. His family members and elected officials have questioned the investigation over the years.
Lasting Impact
Julian Pierce was buried in Hoke County, near his parents' graves. About 1,700 people attended his funeral at Pembroke State University. This included the governor and other important state officials. A civil rights march in Lumberton, planned for April 4, was changed to honor Pierce. Speakers at the event encouraged people to vote for Pierce in the election, even though he had passed away.
Britt was automatically declared the winner of the primary election. However, some reporters and campaign workers counted the votes themselves. They found that Pierce actually won more votes posthumously, with 10,787 votes compared to Britt's 8,231. To make the court system more balanced, another judge position was created in the county. The governor appointed Dexter Brooks, a Lumbee lawyer and friend of Pierce, to that role.
Lumbee River Legal Services named its law library room after Pierce. They also had a portrait of him painted to hang there. In 2003, a scholarship for law students at North Carolina Central University was created in his honor. That same year, the National Legal Aid & Defender Association started the Pierce-Hickerson Award. This award honors lawyers who do excellent legal work for Native Americans. In June 2015, the North Carolina House of Representatives passed a resolution to remember Julian Pierce.
