CBA Record Feb-March 2018

In Memorium: Justice William Cousins, Jr.

By Justice Shelvin Louise Marie Hall “No, I never give up, no. I know if you keep enough pressure on something, you bore ahead. No, I don’t have much despair. I have concerns and dissatisfactions, yes, but not despair. Because I knowwhat the ball game is—I’ve always realized that. And I don’t expect miracles. I believe for every pound of effort, you’re lucky if you get an ounce of results. But by continuing to hammer away, eventually you will accumulate a pound.” So said Justice William Cousins, Jr. in a 1988 interview. J ustice William Cousins, Jr. was my father-in-the-law. My friend, mentor, traveling buddy, appellate court floor mate; he was a man who knewwhat hewanted and how to get it. Whether it was a wife from Japan in the middle of a war, or a seat on the Chicago City Council thoughhe had to run against themachine, or deciding at the National Bar Association convention to become

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven”. Matt. 5:16. Rest in beams of light, dear prince; we loved you so. Justice Shelvin Louise Marie Hall, who served on the appellate court with Justice Cousins, sits on the First District Appel- late Court, and is a member of the CBA Board of Managers. She delivered these remarks at Justice Cousins’ funeral on February 2, 2018, at the Trinity United Church of Christ.

Judicial Conference, all following the prince of darkness into the light. Therewas one timewhen I didnot follow his lead. The appellate court did an on- site visit to the Chicago Fire Department. As we prepared to leave, suddenly we heard a noise and there above us shim- mying down a two-story fire pole was 75–year-old Bill Cousins, grey coattails flying, landing on his feet with a grin brighter than summer. What a guy! William Cousins, Jr. exhibited exquisite intelligence, a serene manner, and a kind and gentle spirit. I can see him now, looking back from beyond the celestial curtains, saying in his own special deliberate way “for that matter, uh, you see, folks I did my part. Now it’s up to all of you to hold the torch so future generations of lawyers, judges and achievers can see in the dark.” But being a believer, he’d probably let the scriptures say it best:

chairman of all the black judges in the nation, without coming up through the ranks, he had a made-up mind and the skill to do the job without fail. That was my friend, JusticeWilliam Cousins, Jr. As you’ve heard, they called him “the prince of darkness,” not because of the beautiful hue of his skin, but because he was driven by his work ethic to plunge onward through the night trying cases sometimes until 2 a.m., sometimes with juries, getting the job done. To those of us who followed in his wake, he was not darkness but a beacon of light shining on the path, showing us the way. Many of us in general, and I in particular, followed his lead from private practice to the circuit court to the appellate court. We even became chairs of the NBA judicial council and the executive committee of the First District Appellate Court and served on the executive committee of the Illinois

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