04.25.25
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Your Legal Research Horoscope

Ever wonder why some law students come by legal research so naturally while others get stuck chasing case law rabbit holes for hours? It might not be your skills, it could be your zodiac sign!

In honor of spring (and finals season), the Blackacre Times is here with a little lighthearted guidance: your Legal Research Horoscope. Whether you’re a methodical Virgo, an adventurous Sagittarius, or a social Gemini, your research habits say a lot about you.

Let’s see what the stars—and the stacks—have to say:

♈ Aries (March 21 – April 19)

Bold and quick, you dive into research headfirst. Aries students love action, but slow down before settling on the first case that pops up. Use advanced filters in Westlaw and Lexis to make sure your search results actually fit the issue, not just your first instinct.

♉ Taurus (April 20 – May 20)

Steady and reliable, Taurus researchers value structure. You’re probably a fan of annotated codes and headnotes, and you appreciate well-organized secondary sources. Just don’t get too comfortable—legal research evolves fast. Keep an eye out for pocket parts, updates, and amended statutes!

♊ Gemini (May 21 – June 20)

Curious and versatile, Geminis love variety, but that can lead to “open tab overload.” Before you end up with 42 cases and no conclusions, write down your research question and check your jurisdiction before starting. Your future self will thank you.

♋ Cancer (June 21 – July 22)

You research with heart. Cancers are intuitive and empathetic, and that makes you great at connecting real-world problems with legal theory. Just make sure your sources have the same strength: check KeyCite or Shepard’s to confirm that your cases are still good law.

♌ Leo (July 23 – August 22)

Leos are natural leaders and love to present strong, confident arguments. But even the best arguments need support! Make sure you back up your flair with sound case law and some rock-solid holdings in your favor. Judges (and professors) aren’t swayed by style alone.

♍ Virgo (August 23 – September 22)

Detail-oriented and precise, Virgos are legal research’s unsung heroes. You love a perfectly formatted Bluebook citation and an organized outline. Just don’t spend so long perfecting the small details that you miss the big picture; synthesis matters just as much as citations.

♎ Libra (September 23 – October 22)

Always seeking balance, Libras are excellent at weighing sources and arguments. You shine when comparing cases across jurisdictions or exploring split authority. Just watch out for “analysis paralysis,” at some point, you have to pick a side and close the tabs.

♏ Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)

Scorpios are relentless researchers. Once you lock onto a question, you’ll follow it into the most obscure corners of legislative history. But remember: even the best research needs to be communicated clearly. Don’t bury your argument under too much supporting evidence.

♐ Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)

The explorer of the zodiac, Sagittarius researchers love expanding into new databases and tools. Your curiosity is a strength, but don’t forget to check your foundational sources before getting too adventurous. Make sure you know the rules before you break them.

♑ Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)

Disciplined and strategic, Capricorns are excellent planners. You probably already have your research mapped out—but don’t be afraid to adapt when cases surprise you. The law isn’t static, and flexibility can turn a good argument into a great one.

♒ Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)

Independent and innovative, Aquarians are early adopters of new research tech. AI-assisted tools like Lexis+ AI and Westlaw Precision are right up your alley, but remember: even cutting-edge tools require critical thinking. Trust, but verify!

♓ Pisces (February 19 – March 20)

Creative and empathetic, Pisces researchers are great at framing legal arguments in human terms. But research isn’t just about heart, so make sure to track your sources and save your searches to avoid floating off into research space without a lifeline.

No matter your sign, the law library is here to help you align your research stars. Stop by to get help charting the clearest path to success, no astrology required.

02.13.25
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Love at First Cite

Image by slgckgc, taken on February 8, 2010. No changes were made. Licensed under CC by 2.0.

Valentine’s Day is all about love, and this starts with finding the right match.  This can apply in relationships, friendships, or… legal research strategies?

Legal research might not seem like the most romantic subject at first, but like any great relationship, it requires time, patience, communication, and a little bit of effort. This Valentine’s Day, let’s look into skills that may help in love and the law. Who knows—legal research might just be your perfect match!

1. Communication is Key

In a relationship, you’ve got to ask the right questions to understand your partner. The same goes for legal research. Before you start digging through Westlaw or Lexis, ask yourself:

What is the specific legal issue I’m researching?

What jurisdiction is relevant for my search?

Am I looking for case law and precedent or a more general overview?

Being clear about your research goals before you dive in is like having an honest conversation with your research “partner” before things get serious. This will not only save you a lot of time, but will also guide you on where to start your search for the perfect match.

2. Effort and Patience: It’s Not a Fling

You know that instant spark people sometimes talk about? Well, legal research isn’t usually like that—it takes time and patience. You might not fall in love with the first case you find. Just like dating, it may take a few tries to get in right. Maybe you need to sort through citing decisions or follow a trail of precedent. 

If you aren’t feeling any chemistry at first, specialized tools on Westlaw and Lexis can help you find “the one.” Headnotes on Westlaw offer summaries and additional sources for specific legal issues, and Ravel View on Lexis connects all cases from your search to show you how seminal a case is (size of a circle), when it was decided (horizontal timeline), jurisdiction (vertical axis), and a decision’s relevance to your search (circle height).

3. Respect: Recognizing the Value of Secondary Sources

In any healthy relationship, both partners have to respect each other’s strengths. In legal research, secondary sources (like treatises and law review articles) provide valuable context and guidance, giving an overview of a legal topic and explaining things in a more accessible way.

When you’re looking at primary law, treat it as your partner—but, the same way you don’t drop your friends when you get into a relationship, never neglect the role of secondary sources! They can help you get to the root of complex issues, summarize legal points, and provide clarity before you dive into the details.

4. Flexibility: Be Open to Change

Sometimes, your research path will take an unexpected turn, much like any relationship. You might find a piece of case law that completely undermines your argument. You might start researching with one focus and realize halfway through that there’s a better way to approach it.

Being flexible with your research strategy is key. If the case law doesn’t say what you thought it would, don’t try to morph it to fit your argument. Instead, reframe your point so the law is on your side. Don’t be afraid to pivot your search as you gather more information, just like you’d reevaluate your relationship when it needs some growth.

5. The Power of Support

In any successful relationship, support is essential. The same is true for persuasive reasoning. You can’t expect your arguments to hold weight without proper support. In law, that support comes in the form of citations. Every claim you make needs to be backed up by a solid source. Citations are your “support system”—without them, your argument falls flat, just like a relationship without trust.

You wouldn’t want your partner to jump to conclusions, so don’t expect your professor (or a judge) to accept your conclusions without a citation to back them up. Every good argument—and relationship—needs that rock-solid foundation to thrive.

Loving the Law

This Valentine’s Day, give your legal skills a little love by cultivating a deeper connection with research. And remember: like finding the one, great research takes time, effort, and patience.

10.09.24
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Balancing the Scales: A Law Student’s Guide to Wellness at GSU

Written by current 2L student, Sydney Jackson.

As law students, we often face intense pressure and high expectations, which makes prioritizing mental health more important than ever. And, ironically, keeping up with readings and other law school obligations can be immensely time consuming, making it more difficult to find time to do the things that keep us sane. The College of Law recognizes this need and offers a variety of resources to support students in maintaining their mental well-being.

Counseling Services

The university provides free, confidential counseling services to all students. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed by coursework, dealing with personal issues, or just need someone to talk to, the counseling center offers individual therapy, group sessions, and workshops focused on stress management, mindfulness, and coping strategies. You can schedule an appointment easily online at https://counseling.gsu.edu/ or by calling the office at 404-413-1640.

Wellness Programs

GSU offers various wellness programs designed to promote mental and physical health. From yoga classes to meditation sessions, these programs help students manage stress and foster a sense of community. Check the university’s wellness calendar here for upcoming events and activities that you can join: https://law.gsu.edu/student-experience/ 

MindWise Behavioral Health Screening

Sometimes, you know you need to check in but don’t know where to start! The MindWise Behavioral Health screening is an anonymous and confidential screening that you can do on behalf of yourself or someone you care about to make sure everything is okay. This questionnaire can be incredibly helpful and provides results, recommendations, and key resources to give you a tip in the right direction when feeling lost. 

Academic Support

The law school also provides academic support services, which can ease some of the pressure associated with rigorous coursework. The academic success program gives you the tools you need to stay on top of your studies, which will ultimately reduce stress and make you more confident in your coursework.

Online Resources

In addition to on-campus resources, GSU offers online tools and resources that can be accessed anytime. These include self-help materials, stress management guides, and access to mental health apps that provide relaxation techniques and coping strategies. These can be found here: https://law.gsu.edu/student-experience/ 

Emergency Resources

If you or someone you know is in crisis, GSU has resources available 24/7 by calling (404) 413-1640. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (dial 988) and the Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741) are always available, providing immediate support.

All in all, taking care of your mental health is crucial as you navigate law school. The COL provides a robust array of resources designed to support students’ well-being. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of these services—your mental health is just as important as your academic success, and likely has more of an impact on it than you may think.

09.24.24
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Miller Lectures of the Past

With the 68th installment of the Henry J. Miller Distinguished Lecture Series right around the corner, it’s a great time to revisit some highlights from previous Miller lectures. Recently, the law library has been digitizing programs from the earliest Miller lectures, so these materials are more accessible than ever. This is an ongoing project, so watch this space for additional updates as the archive grows.

Although we have been unable to find a program for Murray L. Schwartz’s inaugural Miller Lecture, we have digitized the program for the second lecture, and it’s a doozy, featuring Justice Antonin Scalia, who had at the time just wrapped up his first year on the Supreme Court.

The Miller series has had the good fortune to feature a few Supreme Court justices. We’ve digitized the program for Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s 12th Miller Lecture in 1992. In addition to that, the law library’s own Alison Guffey memorably wrote on this very blog about Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s 32nd Miller Lecture, which was delivered in 2003. You can also find a transcription of Justice John Paul Stevens’s 53rd Miller Lecture, from 2014, in the GSU Law Review’s archives.

We’ve also had some other notable jurists from other courts speak, including Judge A. Leon Higgenbotham of the Third Circuit for the 4th Miller Lecture in 1988 and Judge Patricia McGowan Wald of the D.C. Circuit for the 7th Miller Lecture in 1990.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Miller Lecture series has also featured many scholars. In the early days, the series did an especially good job of providing feminist legal scholars with a forum. These include Herma Hill Kay, a co-author (along with the aforementioned Justice Ginsburg) of the first casebook on sex-based discrimination, who gave the 6th Miller Lecture in 1989, and Nadine Strossen, the first woman to lead the ACLU, who gave the 15th Miller Lecture in 1994.

Exploring the law library’s Miller archives is a great way to learn more about the history of GSU Law, while also getting to know some of the nation’s most influential scholars and jurists. We will continue this proud tradition at the next Miller Lecture, when Election Law scholar Rick L. Hasen discusses “A Real Right to Vote.” Don’t miss it!

08.16.24
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Little Known Offerings of the Law Library

Most law students know they can use the library to ask research questions, reserve study rooms, or check out study aids; but that is just the tip of the iceberg of services that the law library provides. Read on as GSU law library’s wonderful circulation supervisor, Tim Zdencanovic, walks you through some functions of the law library that might be unfamiliar to you.

On any normal day after class, you and a friend can come get a study room and go over your readings and assignments. Oh, hey, while you’re here, don’t forget to pick up your Kenny G album, your Sarah Maas book, and your Mystery science theater box set. To make a long story short, the law library has a lot to offer.

You can check out puzzles, book stands, monitors, flashcards, calculators, chargers and lap desks. You have full access to every GSU library in-person or through online requests. This means you can check out vinyl records from the main university library or request a movie from the Clarkston campus. You can check out a book from GSU’s Dunwoody branch and return it here at the Law Library. Pushing past Georgia State, you can request a book from ANY University System of Georgia library. Simply by searching the USG system, the libraries of every public university in Georgia—from Savannah to Dahlonega—are yours to browse and check out material. And you’re not just limited to Georgia; You can request an interlibrary loan (our library getting a book for you from another library) from anywhere in the world! We send books to Thailand and get books from Germany. The world is your library.

Your GSU student ID allows you access to Kanopy, a free video streaming service that has movies like Everything, Everywhere All at Once and Past Lives, as well as K-Dramas, BBC series, and documentaries. Your student ID will also allow you to get a library card from the Fulton County Library System, which has a convenient location directly across the street from the College of Law: the historic Atlanta Central Library. Being a student at GSU opens you up to the whole world of the public library system; Fulton County can probably get you House of the Dragon faster than we can. 

“Atlanta Central Library, ATL” by JJonahJackalope is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

The library is a lot of things: a collection of books; study rooms; and a place to meet people. But more than that, the College of Law Library is one thread in a web of information and resources that stretch from here around the world. Please make use of it!

08.14.24
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Welcome! From Your Student Engagement Librarian

The beginning of the fall semester always creates a tangible buzz around the College of Law as we welcome back our returning students and welcome in our brand new students. As the hub of the law school, the library in particular is buzzing this week and ready for students to return.

During orientation, new students will meet their Personal Librarian and learn about all that the law library has to offer. Check out the First Year Guide (even if you are a returning student) to familiarize yourself with the resources within the library.

One of the most important roles that the library will play in your law school career is as a means of support for you. That means support in your research, your classes, internships, jobs, and, really, in any way that we can. Because of that, I sincerely encourage all students to get to know the library as a space as well as meeting the people who work within the library.

Feel free to reach out with any and all questions as you traverse through law school. Here’s to a wonderful and exciting semester!

08.09.24
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Happy National Book Lovers Day!

Happy National Book Lovers Day! To celebrate, here is a list of some recent reads, as well as all-time faves, of the GSU law librarians. Click on the title to read through the Goodreads synopsis of each book. Happy reading!

Librarian and Professor Pam Brannon recommends Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn.

Librarian and Professor Patrick Parsons recommends Piranesi by Susanna Clarke.

Librarian and Professor Manion recommends Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro and The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann.

Librarian and Professor Meg Butler recommends:

Librarian and Professor Gerard Fowke recommends Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler.

Dean Niedringhaus recommends The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, and Douglas Carlton Abrams. She specifically recommends the audiobook version.

Librarian and Professor Alison Guffey recommends Good Material by Dolly Alderton.

02.29.24
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CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Modern Day

For Black History Month, the Law Library will spotlight Black law figures throughout history and their contributions to the legal field. Each week, a different figure will be featured.

by Sydney Hamilton, 1L

This month, we’ve looked back at a few figures who made the legal field more inclusive and changed the course of history. Their contributions paved the way for countless Black attorneys and legal scholars working today. So, to close out this Black History Month, let’s recognize the Black legal leaders of today who are continuing the legacy of their predecessors. Read more about each leader by selecting the triangle to the left of their name.

Ketanji Brown Jackson

While she spent most of her adolescence in Miami, Ketanji Brown Jackson was born in Washington, D.C., where she now spends her days as a Supreme Court Justice.[1] After President Biden appointed her in 2022, Jackson became the first Black woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. Before this significant accomplishment, Jackson held several other positions, including a clerkship for Associate Justice Stephen G. Breyer and serving as Vice Chair and Commissioner on the U.S. Sentencing Commission.[2] Despite being a new Justice, Jackson has already established her voice in the court, having already written a few solo dissents in her first term alone.[3]

[1] “The Current Court: Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson,” Supreme Court Historical Society. Accessed February 25, 2024. https://supremecourthistory.org/supreme-court-justices/associate-justice-ketanji-brown-jackson/

[2] “Ketanji Brown Jackson,” Oyez. Accessed February 25, 2024. https://www.oyez.org/justices/ketanji_brown_jackson

[3] Adam Liptak, “In Her First Term, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson ‘Came to Play,’ The New York Times, July 7, 2023. Accessed February 25, 2024. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/07/us/supreme-court-ketanji-brown-jackson.html

Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz

Stacey Abrams

Though she grew up in Mississippi, Stacey Abrams literally and figuratively became a representative of Georgia. A Spelman College and Yale Law School graduate, Abrams served in the Georgia House of Representatives for eleven years and became minority leader in 2010.[1] In 2018, Abrams founded Fair Fight, an initiative that addresses voter suppression.[2] Abrams rose to prominence that same year when she announced her Georgia governor campaign. Despite losing, she was cemented as the first Black woman in a gubernatorial race to win a major party’s primary. During the 2020 Presidential and Senate elections, the media credited Abrams as the leading reason behind the Democratic win in Georgia.[3] Abrams is also a prolific novelist in addition to her political accomplishments.[4]

[1] Emma Rothberg, “Stacey Abrams,” National Women’s History Museum. Accessed February 26, 2024. https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/stacey-abrams.

[2] “Meet Our Founder,” Fair Fight. Accessed February 26, 2024. https://fairfight.com/about-stacey-abrams/.

[3] Emma Rothberg, supra.

[4] “Meet our Founder,” supra.

Photo by Gage Skidmore

Bryan Stevenson

While finishing his degree at Harvard Law School, Bryan Stevenson began his exemplary career by working at the Southern Center for Human Rights to represent death row inmates.[1] The experience motivated Stevenson to leave his full-time position with SCHR in Atlanta and move to Alabama, where he founded the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), a non-profit human rights organization.[2] Stevenson and EJI have argued and won numerous cases concerning prisoner rights and death sentences of innocent inmates.[3] In 1990, Stevenson took on the case of Walter McMillian, a black man who, in 1988, had been falsely accused of the murder of a white woman.[4] Stevenson’s efforts resulted in McMillian’s release from prison in 1993. In 2014, Stevenson published a best-selling novel about the case, Just Mercy, which has since been adapted into a film starring Michael B. Jordan (as Stevenson) and Jamie Foxx (as MacMillian).[5]

[1] “Bryan A. Stevenson – Biography,” NYU School of Law. Accessed February 26, 2024. https://its.law.nyu.edu/facultyprofiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=profile.biography&personid=20315.

[2] Meg Grant, “Bryan Stevenson,” People, November 27, 1995. Accessed February 26, 2024. https://people.com/archive/bryan-stevenson-vol-44-no-22/.

[3] “Bryan Stevenson,” Equal Justice Initiative. Accessed February 26, 2024. https://eji.org/bryan-stevenson/.

[4] Meg Grant, “Bryan Stevenson,” People.

[5] Id.

Photo by James Duncan Davidson

Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris has steadily climbed up the legal and political ladders for most of her life. After working as an assistant district attorney for the prosecutor’s office in Oakland, California, Harris eventually ran for District Attorney of San Francisco in 2003 against her former boss.[1] Despite the close race, Harris won and became the first Black woman in California’s history to be elected to the position.[2] Harris nabbed an even tighter victory in 2010 when she narrowly won the race for Attorney General for California; Harris beat her opponent, Steve Cooley, by only 0.8 percentage points.[3] As Attorney General, she won a $20 billion mortgage settlement for California homeowners.[4] In 2017, Harris was sworn into the Senate, and by 2019, she announced her campaign for President of the United States.[5] Though Harris eventually dropped out of the race, she joined Joe Biden as his running mate. Upon the two winning the 2020 Presidential Election, Harris became the first female, first Black, and first Asian Vice President of the United States.

[1] Catherine Kim, Zack Stanton, “55 Things You Need to Know About Kamala Harris,” POLITICO, August 11, 2020. Accessed February 26, 2024. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/08/11/kamala-harris-vp-background-bio-biden-running-mate-2020-393885

[2] Id.

[3] Id.

[4] “Kamala Harris: The Vice President,” The White House. Accessed February 26, 2024. https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/vice-president-harris/

[5] Andrea Wurzburger, “Vice President Kamala Harris’ Career in Photos,” People, October 20, 2023. Accessed February 26, 2024. https://people.com/politics/kamala-harris-career-in-photos/

Photo by Gage Skidmore

Benjamin Crump

An avid activist since his days at Florida State University, Ben Crump has made it his business to defend the Black community.[1] In the wake of numerous reports of police brutality against Black Americans and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, Crump became known widely when he represented the family of Trayvon Martin.[2] Although the court acquitted George Zimmerman—the man who shot and ultimately killed Martin—of murder, Crump acquired a million-dollar settlement with Zimmerman’s homeowner’s association on behalf of the Martin family.[3] Crump went on to represent the families of Michael Brown, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor, winning large settlements for them, too.[4] In addition to these cases, Crump also defended the citizens of Flint, Michigan, during the ongoing Flint Water Crisis and spurred a suit against Johnson & Johnson after reports that its powder had led to several cases of ovarian cancer in Black and Hispanic women. [5] [6]

[1] Gareth Evans, “How Ben Crump became America’s go-to police brutality lawyer,” BBC News, May 29, 2021. Accessed February 29, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57038162

[2] Id.

[3] Id.

[4] Id.

[5] “Flint Water Crisis & Ben Crump,” Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. Accessed February 29, 2024. https://www.pintas.com/resources/flint-crisis-ben-crump/

[6] Dawn Onley, “Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump goes after Johnson and Johnson for marketed baby powder to Black women,” The Grio, February 26, 2019. Accessed February 29, 2024. https://thegrio.com/2019/02/26/civil-rights-attorney-benjamin-crump-files-class-action-lawsuit-johnson-and-johnson/

Photo attributed to Lorie Shaull

Michelle Obama

As one of the most recognized and admired female figures in history, Michelle Obama is a woman who requires no introduction. A Chicago native and a Harvard Law graduate, Obama got her start in corporate law, where she specialized in intellectual property.[1] Eventually, Obama sought a new path and dedicated herself to public service. This included serving as an assistant commissioner of planning and development at the Chicago City Hall and developing the University of Chicago’s first community service program while working as the Associate Dean of Student Services.[2] When her husband, Barack, was elected President of the United States, Obama became the first Black First Lady of the United States. In her role, Obama launched several successful programs, such as Let’s Move!, which addressed childhood obesity by encouraging children to be physically active and pushing for healthy lunches in US schools.[3] Obama also spearheaded Let Girls Learn, which, with the assistance of the Peace Corps, the US Department of State, and other federal agencies, promoted quality education for girls and young women across the globe.[4] In 2018, Obama published her best-selling memoir Becoming, which charted her journey of growth and the lessons she has learned throughout her extraordinary life.

[1] Rosalind Ross, “The woman behind Obama,” Chicago Times, January 20, 2007. Accessed February 29, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20080215230648/http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/221458%2CCST-NWS-mich21.article

[2] “Michelle Obama,” The White House Historical Association. Accessed February 29, 2024. https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/michelle-obama

[3] Id.

[4] Id.

Photo by EJ Hersom

Barack Obama

For the rest of history, the name Barack Obama will always be synonymous with “the first Black President of the United States.” It was considered a historic moment when Chief Justice Roberts swore Obama into office on January 20, 2009. However, technically, this wasn’t the first time that Obama had accomplished such a feat. Funny enough, while attending Harvard Law School, Obama became the first Black president of the Harvard Law Review, attracting media attention even back then.[1] After graduating from college, Obama focused his efforts on rebuilding communities in the US. For example, when he first moved to Chicago, Obama collaborated with local churches to reestablish communities badly affected by the mass closure of steel plants.[2] His penchant for civil rights influenced his work as a lawyer and eventually as a US Senator.[3] In 2007, he began his presidential campaign, a challenging yet ultimately rewarding journey, which resulted in his win over Senator John McCain in 2008. During his presidency, Obama achieved many triumphs, such as appointing several female justices to the Supreme Court, striking down “don’t ask, don’t tell” policies and thus paving the way for same-sex marriage, and adopting the Paris Climate Agreement, which helped decrease greenhouse emissions.[4]

[1] “President Barack Obama,” Obama White House Archives. Accessed February 29, 2024. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/president-obama

[2] Barack Obama,” The White House Historical Association. Accessed February 29, 2024. https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/barack-obama

[3] Id.

[4] David Von Drehle, “Honor and Effort: What President Obama Achieved in Eight Years,” Time, December 22, 2016. Accessed February 29, 2024. https://time.com/4616866/barack-obama-administration-look-back-history-achievements/

Photo by Lawrence Jackson

02.19.24
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CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Charles Hamilton Houston

For Black History Month, the Law Library will spotlight Black law figures throughout history and their contributions to the legal field. Each week, a different figure will be featured.

by Sydney Hamilton, 1L

Charles Hamilton Houston in undated photo taken sometime between 1940-50. Photographer unknown. From the Library of Congress NAACP collection of portraits of founders, board members, staff, branch officers and other prominent cultural, social and political figures. LOT 13074, no 249 [P&P].

Charles Hamilton Houston (September 3, 1895 – April 22, 1950)

Born in Washington, D.C., Charles Hamilton Houston first encountered the legal field through his father, a hard-working attorney in the nation’s capital. However, his father’s exemplary career did not solely inspire Houston to go down a similar path. After graduating from Amherst College and teaching at Howard University, Houston enlisted in the military when the First World War began. During this time, Houston experienced tremendous racial discrimination. He came to a bewildering epiphany: he served a country that did not even value his life and scorned his existence. “I made up my mind,” Houston once said, “that if I got through this war, I would study law and use my time fighting back for men who could not strike back.”[1]

Houston returned to the U.S. in April 1919, the beginning of a period now called the “Red Summer.” This period of violence resulted from several events. For one, the war had further encouraged the Great Migration, a mass emigration of Blacks to the North and the Midwest from the South, seeking to escape increasing racial violence and find better job opportunities. At the same time, the veterans were returning home from the war. This led to a flurry of emotions and opposing attitudes. Many White veterans and civilians were upset about Blacks “taking” jobs that Whites felt rightly belonged to them. Additionally, Whites feared that many of the Black veterans, now equipped with more experience and military training, would no longer allow themselves to be subjected to the racial status quo established in the U.S. On the other hand, many Black veterans were returning from foreign countries where they had been treated better and resented coming home to a country that did not appreciate their service. These rising tensions culminated in some of the bloodiest riots in American history, the worst occurring in Elaine, Arkansas, where at least 100 Black Americans were killed. However, this was notably one of the first times in U.S. history that the Black community had collectively fought back against racial violence.

These events colored Houston’s law school education when he entered Harvard Law School. While there, Houston became the first Black student elected to Harvard Law Review’s editorial board.  He later obtained a Sheldon Traveling Fellowship, which allowed him to study at the University of Madrid and earn a Civil Law degree. After graduating, Houston returned to Washington and joined his father’s law practice, one of the first Black law firms established in D.C.

A foundational tenant of Houston’s approach to the law was the importance of defending and protecting the Black community. He felt that Black lawyers had an obligation to argue on behalf of their community because White lawyers could not be depended on to fight against racial injustice. Eventually, Houston began teaching part-time at Howard Law School and was appointed vice-dean in 1929.  In his new role, Houston made it his mission to turn Howard Law School into a “training ground” for future civil rights lawyers, such as Thurgood Marshall. Before long, Houston turned the law school into a formidable institution, helping them to attain accreditation from the American Bar Association.

In 1935, Houston left Howard to work as the first special counsel for the NAACP. Houston’s main objective was to diminish and eventually abolish Jim Crow laws, which he did through his arguments in several civil rights cases. However, Houston’s most impactful contribution was his strategy to debunk the “separate but equal” myth from Plessy v Ferguson (1897). He first used this tactic in Missouri ex rel. Gaines v. Canada (1939), arguing that it was unconstitutional to prevent a Black applicant from attending a law school “when no comparable facility for Blacks existed in the State.” Winning that case proved the effectiveness of Houston’s ingenious approach.

Houston’s efforts officially paid off in Brown v. Board of Education (1954), when the courts declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Unfortunately, Houston passed away four years earlier, in 1950, before seeing the fruits of his labor. However, his pupil, Thurgood Marshall, made the winning argument in the case. So, perhaps Houston’s spirit was present that day.  

[1] “Charles Hamilton Houston.” Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery, legacyofslavery.harvard.edu/alumni/charles-hamilton-houston. Accessed 18 Feb. 2024.

Other Sources:

“Charles Hamilton Houston.” Separate Is Not Equal: Brown V. Board of Education, americanhistory.si.edu/brown/history/3-organized/charles-houston.html. Accessed 18 Feb. 2024.

“Charles Hamilton Houston.” NAACP, naacp.org/find-resources/history-explained/civil-rights-leaders/charles-hamilton-houston. Accessed 18 Feb. 2024.

“Long Road to Brown: Cases and Lawyers: Charles Hamilton Houston.” Beyond Brown: Pursuing the Promise, www.pbs.org/beyondbrown/history/charleshouston.html. Accessed 18 Feb. 2024.

“Red Summer: The Race Riots of 1919.” The National WWI Museum and Memorial, http://www.theworldwar.org/learn/about-wwi/red-summer. Accessed 18 Feb. 2024.

“Racial Violence and the Red Summer.” National Archives, http://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/wwi/red-summer. Accessed 18 Feb. 2024.

02.13.24
by

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Pauli Murray

For Black History Month, the Law Library will spotlight Black law figures throughout history and their contributions to the legal field. Each week, a different figure will be featured.

by Sydney Hamilton, 1L

“Pauli Murray approx. 1955” by FDR Presidential Library & Museum is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Pauli Murray (November 20, 1910 – July 1, 1985)

A frustrating truth about history is that for all the trailblazers and visionaries who fought for change, only a select few go down as household names. However, the present allows us to rediscover those figures that helped to ensure the very future we now sit in. One such figure is Pauli Murray.

As soon as they were born, Anne Pauline “Pauli” Murray could not ignore the subject of race. The violence of slavery impacted their family’s genetic makeup, as many of Murray’s ancestors were the children of white enslavers and enslaved Black women.  However, this resulted in what Murray described as a “mini-United Nations”[1] and that simply by existing, they defied an era shaped by segregation.

At age three, Murray’s mother died, and their father arranged for Murray to leave Baltimore and live with their maternal aunt and grandparents in Durham, North Carolina. Murray thrived in Durham, teaching themselves to read by age five. In school, Murray excelled academically and had their hands in as many extracurriculars as possible, from president of the literary society to editor-in-chief of the school newspaper to forward on the basketball team. It’s no wonder that, throughout their life, Murray would be known for wearing many hats.

In 1926, Murray graduated high school at 15 with qualifications to attend any university. While they dreamed of attending Columbia, the university did not accept women then. This reality of segregation by gender also infuriated them. Instead, Murray enrolled at Hunter College- a racially integrated women’s college in New York City.

During and after college, Murray began to question their gender and their sexuality and officially changed their name from “Anne Pauline” to “Pauli.” Murray experimented with dressing more masculine and even asked doctors to examine them, seeking gender-affirming treatments that did not exist then. Questions about their gender identity often influenced Murray’s writings about gender equality.

In the late 1930s and early 1940s, Murray truly stepped into their role as a civil rights activist. When Murray applied to the University of North Carolina for graduate school, they were rejected because of their race. In response, Murray began a letter-writing campaign, writing to several officials, such as the university presidents, newspapers, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The First Lady responded, and this correspondence led to a decades-long friendship between Pauli and Eleanor. Additionally, on a trip from New York to California in 1940, Murray and a friend were arrested when they refused to sit in the back of the bus. Later, while working for the Worker’s Defense League, Murray assisted in the case of a black sharecropper who had been sentenced to life for killing his white landlord during an argument. These events, among others, inspired Murray to pursue a legal education.

In 1941, Murray began attending Howard University Law School and was the only woman in their class. The experience led Murray to coin the term “Jane Crow,” similar to Jim Crow but focused on the inherent misogynoir of segregation. Murray continued to fight for equal rights, often leading protests and sit-ins on Howard University’s campus.

More than anything, it was Pauli Murray’s words which defined their life and, ultimately, the lives of so many others. In 1948, Murray published their first book, States’ Laws on Race and Color, a 700-hundred-page analysis and critique of segregation in the United States. The book greatly influenced Thurgood Marshall, who “referred to the work as ‘the bible’ of Brown v. Board of Education.”[2] A case argued by Murray and attorney Dorothy Kenyon for women to have the equal right to serve on juries inspired Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the point where, when Ginsburg wrote her brief for Reed v. Reed, a landmark decision that made differential treatment on the basis of sex unconstitutional, Ginsburg credited Murray as a co-author.[3]

Murray acquired many other accolades, like being the first Black person to receive a JSD from Yale Law School and the first Black woman to become an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church. Though Murray’s name and life may not be familiar to some, their contributions have made an invaluable mark on history and the future as we know it. In 2024, Murray is scheduled to have their face featured on the U.S. Quarter, a tribute that should encourage more people to recognize Pauli Murray’s name.

[1] “Life Story: Pauli Murray (1910-1985).” Women & the American Story by the New-York Historical Society, (last visited Feb. 13, 2024). wams.nyhistory.org/confidence-and-crises/world-war-ii/pauli-murray/.

[2] Emma Rothberg. “Pauli Murray.” National Women’s History Museum, (2021). http://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/pauli-murray.

[3] Philippa Strum. “Pauli Murray’s Indelible Mark on the Fight for Equal Rights.” American Civil Liberties Union, (June 24, 2020). https://www.aclu.org/issues/womens-rights/pauli-murrays-indelible-mark-fight-equal-rights.

Other sources:

Julian Cardillo. “Pauli Murray, Civil Rights Icon and Former Professor, to Appear on American Quarter.” Brandeis University, (Feb. 7, 2024). http://www.brandeis.edu/75/stories/pauli-murray-quarter.html.

“Pauli Murray.” Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame, (last visited Feb. 13, 2024). msa.maryland.gov/msa/educ/exhibits/womenshallfame/html/murray.html.

“Pauli Murray As a LGBTQ+ Historical Figure.” National Museum of African American History & Culture, (last visited Feb. 13, 2024). nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/pauli-murray-lgbtq-historical-figure.

“The Pioneering Pauli Murray: Lawyer, Activist, Scholar and Priest.” National Museum of African American History & Culture, (last visited Feb. 13, 2024). nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/pioneering-pauli-murray-lawyer-activist-scholar-and-priest.

“Who Is the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray?” Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice, (last visited Feb. 13, 2024). http://www.paulimurraycenter.com/who-is-pauli.