Richard Erwin
Encyclopedia
Richard Cannon Erwin was an American jurist and politician who was the first African American
to be elected to statewide office in North Carolina
.
After serving in the United States Army
, Erwin graduated from Johnson C. Smith University
and Howard University
School of Law.
Erwin served on his local school board in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
(1961-68), on the North Carolina State Board of Education
(1971-77), and was elected to two terms in the North Carolina Senate
as a Democrat. In 1977, Governor Jim Hunt
appointed him to the North Carolina Court of Appeals
. In 1978, the voters of the state elected him to continue as an Appeals Court judge.
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter
appointed Erwin as the first black federal judge in North Carolina. Erwin later became chief judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
from 1988 until he assumed senior status
on September 22, 1992.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
to be elected to statewide office in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
After serving in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, Erwin graduated from Johnson C. Smith University
Johnson C. Smith University
Johnson C. Smith University is a private, co-ed, four-year liberal arts institution of higher learning located in the heart of Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. It is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. JCSU is also a historically black college...
and Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
School of Law.
Erwin served on his local school board in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
(1961-68), on the North Carolina State Board of Education
North Carolina State Board of Education
The North Carolina State Board of Education, established by Article 9 of the North Carolina Constitution, supervises and administers the public school systems of North Carolina...
(1971-77), and was elected to two terms in the North Carolina Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
as a Democrat. In 1977, Governor Jim Hunt
Jim Hunt
James Baxter Hunt Jr. is an American politician who was the 69th and 71st Governor of the state of North Carolina . He is the longest-serving governor in the state's history.-Early life:...
appointed him to the North Carolina Court of Appeals
North Carolina Court of Appeals
The North Carolina Court of Appeals is the only intermediate appellate court in the state of North Carolina. It is composed of fifteen members who sit in rotating groups of three...
. In 1978, the voters of the state elected him to continue as an Appeals Court judge.
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
appointed Erwin as the first black federal judge in North Carolina. Erwin later became chief judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina is a United States district court with jurisdiction over 24 counties in the center of North Carolina...
from 1988 until he assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on September 22, 1992.