obituaries

Champion Of Liberty

Ryan Fishman

Special to the Jewish News

H

arold Norris, civil rights cham-
pion, lawyer, scholar, author,
statesman, poet and professor
emeritus at the Detroit College of Law
(DCL), died Oct. 14, 2013. Professor Norris,
of Bloomfield Hils, was 95.
One of Michigan's most celebrated civil
liberties advocates, Professor Norris began
his legal career in private practice, concen-
trating on constitutional law, civil liberties
and labor law. He represented teachers, stu-
dents and others subpoenaed by the House
Committee on Un-American Affairs.
He taught Constitutional Law, Criminal
Law, and Women and the Law courses at
DCL for 37 years to some 6,000 students,
inspiring them to embrace the Bill of Rights
as a living document to protect minorities,
women and "the least, the last and the lost"
and assure equal treatment and dignity
under the law.
He advocated the law as a tool for achiev-
ing justice for regular citizens against abu-
sive government practices.
In 1961, Professor Norris was elected
a delegate to Michigan's Constitutional
Convention, where he played a major role
in writing Michigan's Constitution. He
was the co-author of Article I, Section 2,
prohibiting racial and religious discrimina-
tion, and helped write Article V, Section
29, to create the Michigan Civil Rights
Commission. Michigan is the only state
with a constitutionally created Civil Rights
Commission prohibiting racial and reli-
gious discrimination.
Professor Norris authored the Freedom
of Expression provision in the Declaration
of Rights and the provisions creating a right
of appeal in every criminal case, a right to
fair and just treatment in legislative and
executive investigations, and an expanded
right of petition.
The new right of appeal was the constitu-
tional basis for the creation of the Michigan
Appellate Defender's Office.
Federal District Court Judge Avern Cohn,
a former chair of the Michigan Civil Rights
Commission, recalled Professor Norris'
contributions to the Michigan Constitution,
telling the Jewish News, "Harold was a
true believer, and he had a true sense of
justice and what was right when it came to
personal liberty. He was the father of the
Michigan Civil Rights Commission.
"He had a sharp understanding of civil
rights and civil liberties issues and he did
not compromise:'
Federal Judge Julian Abele Cook Jr., also
a former chair of the Michigan Civil Rights
Commission, described Professor Norris
as "a scholar and an inspiration to all of
us who believe in civil rights and human
rights.

60

October 24 • 2013

JR!

"He was truly a wonderful person and a
colorful topics in his poetry book An
gentleman as well."
American Mural: The Liberty Bell 6 Other
Professor Norris was the only recipient
Select and New Poetry, which was nomi-
of two Lifetime Achievement Awards from
nated for a Pulitzer Prize. His poem The
Liberty Bell hangs in the Independence
the State Bar of Michigan; in 1988, the
Champion of Justice Award, and in 2011,
National Parks Administration Building in
the John W. Reed Michigan Lawyer Legacy
Philadelphia next to the Liberty Bell.
Award as an educator whose influence on
Professor Norris received a bachelor of
lawyers elevated the quality of legal practice arts degree from the University of Michigan
in Michigan.
in 1939 and a master's in economics in
He also received a Michigan Supreme
1941. The following year, he entered the
Court certificate describing
military. Upon graduating
from the Army Air Force
him as "Lawyer, Educator,
Poet and Statesman:'
Statistical School at Harvard in
Earlier in his career, The
1943, he spent the remainder
Michigan Chronicle gave
of World War II until 1946
Professor Norris a special
serving as a statistical control
officer in Britain and France
award "In Recognition of 25
Years of Outstanding Support
with the Ninth Air Force, Air
Transport Command. He
and Community Guidance
Service" as a courageous
received his law degree from
liberal with more than a com-
Columbia University in New
York in 1948.
mon interest in his fellow
Harold Nor ris
man, particularly noting a
Professor Norris was raised
study he conducted reveal-
in a Conservative Jewish fam-
ing an unjustifiable number
ily and was educated in his
of arrests being made against minorities,
youth in Detroit at Congregation Shaarey
resulting in the establishment of a Citizens
Zedek. He befriended Rabbi Leon Fram of
Review Board providing impartial review
Temple Israel, who, at the time, was spear-
to matters involving police and citizens.
heading the Reform movement across the
Professor Norris was former chair of
country, and joined the synagogue with his
family.
the American Civil Liberties Union of
Through his faith, Professor Norris
Metropolitan Detroit. Kary Moss, executive
director of the ACLU in Michigan, recalled
embraced the protection of civil rights
Professor Norris' role in the organiza-
and civil liberties as they related to anti-
tion's founding in the 1950s, explaining
Semitism, believing that by fighting for all
he "worked as, in his words, 'a foot soldier
rights, whether for minorities, women or
for the Constitution: He was one of those
immigrants, that, at their core, they tied
intellectuals who really took to heart and
back to the protection of the Jewish people.
embodied an appreciation for all that
Professor Norris believed that the Jewish
makes our democracy great:'
and African American communities shared
a common goal of fighting for and preserv-
Author And Poet
ing equal treatment and historically built
Professor Norris authored a number of
bridges with civil rights leaders across the
books to promote and defend civil rights
country, hoping to ensure that hand in
and civil liberties. He wrote Mr. Justice
hand all minorities had a fair shot.
Murphy and the Bill of Rights, convinc-
Famed Civil Rights leader and Sixth
ing Detroit Mayor Jerome Cavanagh that
Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Damon J.
Recorder's Court be named after the
Keith called Professor Norris a close friend
former mayor and U.S. Supreme Court
and told the Jewish News that he still main-
Justice: the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice.
tains an autographed set of his books deal-
He published the innovative law school
ing with the Constitution in his personal
text Casebook of Complete Criminal Trials.
library.
He also wrote Education for Popular
"He was truly a man who not only taught
Sovereignty through Implementing the
the law, but practiced it in terms of the four
Constitution on the Bill of Rights on
words etched in the Supreme Court, 'Equal
the occasion of the bicentennial of the
justice under law:" said Keith.
Constitution of the United States and the
"He believed deeply in that; and I want
Bill of Rights, a book which he called "the
people to know that my general philosophy
capstone of my career:'
as it relates to the Constitution, the Equal
U.S. Sen. Carl Levin wrote in the pref-
Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment,
ace that the book was a sample of the
and civil rights generally came from those
professor's "life's efforts to protect the U.S.
books Harold left for me.
Constitution and extend its guarantees to
"He was a great man, a great advocate for
each of us:'
justice and fair play; and he taught many,
Professor Norris also expressed strong
many students who were fortunate to have
feelings on the Constitution and other
him:' Keith said. "With his death, we have

Obituaries

The Liberty Bell

by Harold Norris

Does the Liberty Bell lie in state
Silent as monuments to the great
With symbolism out of date
And sound as hollow as its fate.
Or can you in your inner ear
The proclamation hear
When your newspaper is near
When your conscience is clear
When you vote without fear
When children sing and cheer.
Is there a sound effect
You can detect, in
Your right to speak
Your right to seek,
Your right to read
Your right to lead,
Your right to choose
Your right to prove,
Your right to fight
Your right to strike,
Your right to pray
Your right to play,
Your right to doubt, shout, know,
grow, propose, oppose, elect,
reject, expect, protect;
Your right to in your own way find
Your own inscrutable mind.
Listen in the night
Listen with all your might
With all your common sense
Now and in our future tense
Listen in the light
To your singing Bill of Rights,
In the ring
Of the swing
And the swell
Of the cracked and silent
Liberty Bell.

w

lost one of the tallest trees in this commu-
nity:'
Harold Norris is survived by his daugh-
ter, Barbara "M" Shawn of Petoskey; son
and daughter-in-law, Victor Norris and
Ronda Barak-Norris of West Bloomfield;
grandchildren, Rebecca (Brad) Kranig, Max
and Jessica Norris; great-grandchildren,
Mitchell and Connor Kranig; cousins,
nephews, nieces and other family members
and friends. He was also survived by his
loving caregivers, Gina, Rahtina, Kim and
Margot.
He was predeceased by his beloved wife,
Frances, with whom he enjoyed a spiritual
marriage for 47 years; dear sister, Irene
Simon; and dear brother, Norton Norris.
Interment was at Beth El Memorial
Park. Contributions may be made to the
Harold Norris Endowment at MSU Law
School, 648 N. Shaw Lane, Room 400, East
Lansing, MI 48824, www.law.msu.edu/
donate. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.

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