U. W. Clemon
Encyclopedia
U. W. Clemon is a retired federal judge.
Clemon was born in Fairfield, Alabama
. At age 13, he decided to become a lawyer. While a student at Miles College
in 1962, he confronted the infamous Bull Connor
over Birmingham's segregation laws. He marched with Dr. Martin Luther King during the demonstrations the following year, and desegregated the Birmingham Public Library
. After graduating from New York's Columbia Law School
in 1968, he returned to Birmingham and practiced civil rights law for twelve years.
Clemon handled school desegregation cases throughout North Alabama. He sued Paul "Bear" Bryant in 1969 to desegregate the University of Alabama's football team. He also brought employment discrimination cases against some of the largest employers in Alabama.
In 1974, Clemon was one of the first two blacks elected to the Alabama Senate
since Reconstruction. As chairman of the Rules Committee and later the Judiciary Committee, he fought against Governor George Wallace
's exclusion of black citizens from state boards and agencies and the reinstatement of the death penalty.
Jimmy Carter
in 1980 appointed Clemon as Alabama's first black federal judge when he nominated him for a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
. He later became the chief judge of the Northern District. He was the trial judge in the Ledbetter v. Goodyear case and in several multi-district cases.
Clemon retired from the judiciary on January 31, 2009. He now practices law in Birmingham.
Clemon was born in Fairfield, Alabama
Fairfield, Alabama
Fairfield is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover Metropolitan Area. The population was 12,381 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the Census estimates the population to be 11,547.-History:...
. At age 13, he decided to become a lawyer. While a student at Miles College
Miles College
Miles College is a historically black college founded in 1898. It is located in Fairfield, Alabama, which is six miles west of Birmingham, Alabama. It is a private liberal arts institution of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church...
in 1962, he confronted the infamous Bull Connor
Bull Connor
Theophilus Eugene "Bull" Connor was the Commissioner of Public Safety for the city of Birmingham, Alabama, during the American Civil Rights Movement...
over Birmingham's segregation laws. He marched with Dr. Martin Luther King during the demonstrations the following year, and desegregated the Birmingham Public Library
Birmingham Public Library
For the main library in Birmingham, England see, Birmingham Central Library.The Birmingham Public Library, a well-respected and one of the largest library systems in the southeastern United States, consists of 19 branches and a main or central library located in downtown Birmingham, Alabama...
. After graduating from New York's Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
in 1968, he returned to Birmingham and practiced civil rights law for twelve years.
Clemon handled school desegregation cases throughout North Alabama. He sued Paul "Bear" Bryant in 1969 to desegregate the University of Alabama's football team. He also brought employment discrimination cases against some of the largest employers in Alabama.
In 1974, Clemon was one of the first two blacks elected to the Alabama Senate
Alabama Senate
The Alabama State Senate is the upper house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The body is composed of 35 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state, with each district containing at least 127,140 citizens...
since Reconstruction. As chairman of the Rules Committee and later the Judiciary Committee, he fought against Governor George Wallace
George Wallace
George Corley Wallace, Jr. was the 45th Governor of Alabama, serving four terms: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics, according to biographers Dan T. Carter and Stephan Lesher, he ran for U.S...
's exclusion of black citizens from state boards and agencies and the reinstatement of the death penalty.
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...
in 1980 appointed Clemon as Alabama's first black federal judge when he nominated him for a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties: Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Cullman, De Kalb, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar,...
. He later became the chief judge of the Northern District. He was the trial judge in the Ledbetter v. Goodyear case and in several multi-district cases.
Clemon retired from the judiciary on January 31, 2009. He now practices law in Birmingham.