Wilkie D. Ferguson
Encyclopedia
Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. was an American lawyer
and judge
. He served on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
, the Florida Third District Court of Appeal
as well as the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida
.
immigrants. He grew up in the Liberty Square public housing project in Miami, attending segregated
public schools. He was a member of the first graduating class of Miami Northwestern High School
in 1956.
Ferguson graduated from the Florida A&M University
with a Bachelor of Science
in business administration in 1960.
At FAMU he met his wife, Betty, who later became a member of the Miami-Dade County Commission
. After graduation, Ferguson enlisted
in the U.S. Army
and served from 1960 to 1964. He attained the rank
of second lieutenant
, serving as a paratrooper
and infantry
units at Fort Benning
in 1961. Ferguson was discharged
from active duty
in 1964 but remained in the Army Reserve
as a captain from 1964 to 1968. Ferguson worked as an accountant in Philadelphia and took graduate courses at Drexel University
before entering Howard University School of Law
. Ferguson served as associate editor of The Barrister, the Howard University School of Law newspaper. He received his J.D.
in 1968.
Ferguson served as a staff attorney of Legal Services of Greater Miami from 1968 to 1970, and from the Liberty City-Brownsville Legal Services office from 1969 to 1971. Ferguson was a member of the panel that investigated the 1968 Liberty City
riots. He was in private practice
in Miami from 1970 to 1973, and co-founded the firm
of McCrary, Ferguson and Lee in 1971. Ferguson was a staff attorney of the Dade County School Board
from 1972 to 1973.
In 1976, Governor Rubin Askew appointed Ferguson to the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida
(Dade County Circuit Court) from 1977 to 1981; he was the first black
judge appointed to that court.
Ferguson was appointed the Florida Third District Court of Appeal
in December 1980 and served on that court from 1981 to 1993; he was the first black judge on that court.
Ferguson was nominated by President
Bill Clinton
to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida on October 25, 1993, to the seat vacated by William Marcellin Hoeveler. Confirmed
by the Senate
on November 20, 1993, he received commission
on November 22, 1993. Ferguson served on the court until he died of leukemia
in Miami in 2003. Just ten days after his death the Florida Black Lawyers Association voted unanimously to rename itself the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association in his honor. The new Wilkie D. Ferguson Courthouse in downtown Miami
, designed by Arquitectonica
, is also named for Ferguson.
He was succeeded by Marcia G. Cooke
.
Law of the United States
The law of the United States consists of many levels of codified and uncodified forms of law, of which the most important is the United States Constitution, the foundation of the federal government of the United States...
and judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
. He served on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida is the federal United States district court with jurisdiction over the southern part of the state of Florida....
, the Florida Third District Court of Appeal
Florida Third District Court of Appeal
The Florida Third District Court of Appeal is headquartered in Miami, Florida. Its ten judges have jurisdiction over cases arising from Miami-Dade Monroe Counties.-History:...
as well as the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida
Florida Circuit Courts
The Florida Circuit Courts are state courts. They are trial courts of original jurisdiction for most controversies. In Florida, the circuit courts are one of four types of courts created by the Florida Constitution .The Circuit Courts primarily handle civil cases where...
.
Background
Ferguson was born in Miami, to BahamianThe Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
immigrants. He grew up in the Liberty Square public housing project in Miami, attending segregated
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
public schools. He was a member of the first graduating class of Miami Northwestern High School
Miami Northwestern High School
Miami Northwestern Senior High School is a public high school located in Miami, Florida, United States, serving students in grades 9-12. It serves the Liberty City neighborhood of Miami. The school colors are Old Gold and Royal Blue...
in 1956.
Ferguson graduated from the Florida A&M University
Florida A&M University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, commonly known as Florida A&M or FAMU, is a historically black university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States, the state capital, and is one of eleven member institutions of the State University System of Florida...
with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in business administration in 1960.
At FAMU he met his wife, Betty, who later became a member of the Miami-Dade County Commission
Miami-Dade county law and government
Since its formation in 1957, Miami-Dade County has had a two-tier system of government. Under this system, Miami-Dade comprises a large unincorporated area and 35 incorporated areas or municipalities...
. After graduation, Ferguson enlisted
Enlisted rank
An enlisted rank is, in most Militaries, any rank below a commissioned officer or warrant officer. The term can also be inclusive of non-commissioned officers...
in the U.S. 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...
and served from 1960 to 1964. He attained the rank
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
of second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
, serving as a paratrooper
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
and infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
units at Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
in 1961. Ferguson was discharged
Military discharge
A military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from their obligation to serve.-United States:Discharge or separation should not be confused with retirement; career U.S...
from active duty
Active duty
Active duty refers to a full-time occupation as part of a military force, as opposed to reserve duty.-Pakistan:The Pakistan Armed Forces are one of the largest active service forces in the world with almost 610,000 full time personnel due to the complex and volatile nature of Pakistan's...
in 1964 but remained in the Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
as a captain from 1964 to 1968. Ferguson worked as an accountant in Philadelphia and took graduate courses at Drexel University
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
before entering Howard University School of Law
Howard University School of Law
Howard University School of Law is one of the professional graduate schools of Howard University. Located in Washington, D.C., it is one the oldest law schools in the country and the oldest historically black college or university law school in the United States...
. Ferguson served as associate editor of The Barrister, the Howard University School of Law newspaper. He received his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1968.
Ferguson served as a staff attorney of Legal Services of Greater Miami from 1968 to 1970, and from the Liberty City-Brownsville Legal Services office from 1969 to 1971. Ferguson was a member of the panel that investigated the 1968 Liberty City
Liberty City
Liberty City is a neighborhood in Miami, Florida, United States. The area is roughly bound by NW 79th Street to the north, NW 27th Avenue to the west, the Airport Expressway to the south, and Interstate 95 to the east. The Miami neighborhood is home to one of the largest concentrations of black...
riots. He was in private practice
Practice of law
In its most general sense, the practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents for clients, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings such as lawsuits, and is applied to the professional services of a lawyer or attorney at law, barrister,...
in Miami from 1970 to 1973, and co-founded the firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
of McCrary, Ferguson and Lee in 1971. Ferguson was a staff attorney of the Dade County School Board
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Miami-Dade County Public Schools is a public school district serving Miami-Dade County, Florida. Founded in 1885, it is the largest school district in Florida and the Southeastern United States, and the fourth largest in the United States, with a student enrollment of 380,006 as of July 5, 2010...
from 1972 to 1973.
Judicial Service
Between 1973 and 1977, Ferguson served on the Industrial Claims Court.In 1976, Governor Rubin Askew appointed Ferguson to the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida
Florida Circuit Courts
The Florida Circuit Courts are state courts. They are trial courts of original jurisdiction for most controversies. In Florida, the circuit courts are one of four types of courts created by the Florida Constitution .The Circuit Courts primarily handle civil cases where...
(Dade County Circuit Court) from 1977 to 1981; he was the first black
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
judge appointed to that court.
Ferguson was appointed the Florida Third District Court of Appeal
Florida Third District Court of Appeal
The Florida Third District Court of Appeal is headquartered in Miami, Florida. Its ten judges have jurisdiction over cases arising from Miami-Dade Monroe Counties.-History:...
in December 1980 and served on that court from 1981 to 1993; he was the first black judge on that court.
Ferguson was nominated by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida on October 25, 1993, to the seat vacated by William Marcellin Hoeveler. Confirmed
Advice and consent
Advice and consent is an English phrase frequently used in enacting formulae of bills and in other legal or constitutional contexts, describing a situation in which the executive branch of a government enacts something previously approved of by the legislative branch.-General:The expression is...
by the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on November 20, 1993, he received commission
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
on November 22, 1993. Ferguson served on the court until he died of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
in Miami in 2003. Just ten days after his death the Florida Black Lawyers Association voted unanimously to rename itself the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association in his honor. The new Wilkie D. Ferguson Courthouse in downtown Miami
Downtown Miami
Downtown Miami is an urban residential neighborhood, and the central business district of Miami, Miami-Dade County, and South Florida in the United States...
, designed by Arquitectonica
Arquitectonica
Arquitectonica is an international architecture, landscape architecture, interior design and urban planning corporation headquartered in Miami, Florida, United States in the Coconut Grove neighborhood, with offices in ten other cities throughout the world...
, is also named for Ferguson.
He was succeeded by Marcia G. Cooke
Marcia G. Cooke
Marcia Gail Cooke is an American lawyer and district judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. She joined the court in 2004 after being nominated by President George W. Bush.-Early life and education:...
.
External links
- Profile from the Florida Third District Court of AppealFlorida Third District Court of AppealThe Florida Third District Court of Appeal is headquartered in Miami, Florida. Its ten judges have jurisdiction over cases arising from Miami-Dade Monroe Counties.-History:...
- Article on the new Wilkie D. Ferguson Courthouse
- http://www.thefergusonbar.org Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Bar Association