Born into a time with horrific segregation and discrimination in Trenton, New Jersey, A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. fought for his success and overcame many obstacles throughout life. He was a stellar student who became the first black child from his school to be sent to the Ewing Park High School, a predominately white school. Following this, he attended Purdue University until he was denied housing by the school administration and decided to leave the school. He then attended Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio where he chose to pursue a career in law and fight against racial injustices. He attended law school at Yale University where he graduated with honors in 1952 (BHS). He grew to become one of the country’s most renowned federal judges. Towards the end of his judicial career, between 1990 and before retirement in 1993, A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. served as the Chief Judge of Federal Appeals court located in Philadelphia. He was one of the few African American judges to manage a circuit court within the country. He was very passionate about his profession and often took strong stances on a variety of topics; such as Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his conservative tendencies (Glaberson). In 1995, A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his advocacy of civil rights. He continued his professional career by teaching at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Unfortunately, on December 14th, 1998 A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. passed away due to a stroke he experienced a couple days prior (FEDERAL).

Potential News Features:

1. The difference in the current dynamic when dealing with minorities, compared to the time of A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. as the Chief Judge of Federal Appeals court.
2. The anniversary of the death of A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. and remembering his great achievements. 
3. The anniversary of A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom on September 29th and a comparison to why people win this award nowadays. 

 

Works Cited

BHS. “A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr. Biography at Black History Now.” Black Heritage Commemorative Society,

31 May 2014, blackhistorynow.com/a-leon-higginbotham-jr/.

 

“FEDERAL JUDGE A. LEON HIGGINBOTHAM JR. DIES.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 1998,

www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1998/12/16/federal-judge-a-leon-higginbotham-jr-dies/

 

Glaberson, William. “A. Leon Higginbotham Jr., Federal Judge, Is Dead at 70.” The New York Times, The

New York Times, 15 Dec. 1998,

www.nytimes.com/1998/12/15/us/a-leon-higginbotham-jr-federal-judge-is-dead-at-70.html.