CBA Record July-August 2018

In Memoriam

off the northwestern coast of Africa, George spent most of his youth picking cranberries, strawberries and blueber- ries in the bogs and patches of southern Massachusetts. He never got past the 7th grade, but he later won special admission to Howard University where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa. He was then awarded a scholarship to attend Harvard Law School. His legal studies were interrupted by three years of courageous service to our country during World War II. As a young lawyer in Chicago in the late 1940s, George was the subject of blatant race discrimination. Because of the color of his skin, he could not join the Ameri- can Bar Association or the Chicago Bar Association, he could not rent office space in most buildings in the Loop, he could not eat in many restaurants, and taxi driv- ers refused to transport him. But George stood firm and fought race discrimination in every aspect of American life. In one matter in 1951, George advised a black couple that the lease they signed to move into an apartment in all-white Cicero was lawful and binding. They moved in, a race riot ensued, and George was indicted by a Cook County grand jury for conspir- acy to incite a riot—all because he told his clients they had a lawful right to move into their apartment! Another legendary lawyer, Thurgood Marshall, came to Chicago to represent George, and the indictment was dismissed. Poetically, the courthouse where he was indicted now bears his name. In another matter, George unsuccess- fully pressed the Chicago Police Depart- ment to reform its abusive practices in Chi- cago’s black communities. In prophetic and haunting words, written almost 55 years ago, George Leighton wrote, “Recently, I made the statement that unless something was done about this plague in this commu- nity, the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice would have to be called because otherwise there will come to our atten-

The schoolhouse in New Bedford, Massachusetts where Leighton began his education.

tion some heartbreaking tragedy inflicted upon an ordinary person who happens to fall into the custody of the Chicago Police Department.” His plea for reform went unheeded, and our City continues to pay the consequences more than 50 years later. I was privileged to be George Leighton’s friend for more than 40 years. He was a

spectacular advocate, jurist, and friend. He is already missed by me and by so many others for whomGeorge Leighton personi- fied justice, dignity and decency. –By Jeffrey D. Coleman, Jenner & Block

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