JULY 26 - AUGUST 1, 1 7 THE ICHIGAN CITIZEN
9
African-Americans and the Constitution
upreme Cou
Justice Dennl
Arc er
y Attom y Coral • Watt
In November of 1985, Dennis W. Archer was
appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court by
Gov. James Blanchard
The following year he was elected to an eight­
year term by the people of the state. He was
the first Black to sit on the court in nearly 20
years and only the second in Michigan's 150-
year history.
Justice Dennis Archer was born in Detroit
and raised in C sopolis, Michigan. He
gr duated from Western Michigan University
in 1965 and taught mentally retarded students
, before graduating from the Detroit College of
Law in 1970.
Justice Archer has been a leading figure in
supporting and promoting opportunities for
women and minorities. He wor with
numerous civic and political organizations, has
published a number of articles and occasionally
hos radio and television interview shows.
inee 1987 marks the celebration of the Bicen­
tennial of the U'S. Constitution, Justice Archer
was ed to comment on the significance of
this celebration for Blac Americans, to com­
ment on minorities within the legal profession,
d to give a bit of personal advice to minority
youth interested in pursing a career in the legal
profession.
: The Constitutio as it was written always
ade me feel inferior a Blac American.
part of th glorious history tha we as
Bla helped to make for this country. We
ere brough over as slaves and upon arrival
ep r t d from our families, wives from h�­
bands, children from mothers and fathers. This
done to p ople who h d their own life-
tyles, economi customs and beliefs ---
people with a rich history and traditions. When
you appreciate the contributions Black
Americans h ve m de to this country and then
you ee that at the tim the Constitution w
written we were viewed as only 3/5 of per on
and could not vote or even be considered a
whole human being, it is very disheartening.
However what Justice Marshall did by his
, .
s ement was to focus everyone's attennon on
the Constitution so that America, no only
Blac America would recall what the Constitu­
tion did at the time it w written and passed.
What it did to BI Americans and omen.
But in causing . examination of the Constitu­
tion, I thin Justice arshall also made
Ameri t 100 at ho far our country has
com in recognizing individual rights under the
very e d um nt.. .
U. . irution IS very umque docu-
eot. t pu id down on paper, it bifurcated
the po r tru ure. it called for a balance of
•
government and it set forth a number of in-
dividual rights. But more importantly, it did set
forth the opportunity that gave rise to the
amendments later. Many Americans and young
people in particular don't foe on the history
of the document They merely 100 at it, as it is
today.
Justice Marshall's comments helped redirect
that focus. He made us 100 at the Constitution
as a historical and evolving document. Y , the
Constitution as it was written did e elude
minorities. Ho er, the mechanism tha w
set up, the Constitution itself provided the
modality to bring about the amendments. The
amendments which are now used in the COD-
"
Justice
arshall als made
erica ta e a 100 at
ow far our country has
- - -
co e I recogmzmg
i dividual rights. . . n
s itution and by the courts to bring ut a bet-
ter America.
: I don't see a back lash in vivil rights result­
. g from his retirement. There have been
others appointed to the cour that were con­
sidered conservative in th ir outloo . However,
they have not ys been conservati in their
dec' ions. Justice O'Conner and Justice calia
were both considered conservatives. It has not
been as easy as predicted to determine how
their 0 ould be cast on decisions. I believe
that whoever is ch en to replace Jus' ce
Powell will be as independent in his decision
making as the aforementioned Justices have
proven to be.
: A minority student who has been dmitted
o law school has a reasonable expectation
that he or she should be able to find legal
employment, but reality doesn't always live up
to that expectation. If the profession does oot
reflect the makeup of our society, we as
lawyers lose credibility no only with minorities,
but with all citizens.
While the number of BI ck at omeys in cor­
por te law firms' 10 , it is apparent that cor­
pora e law firms are beginning to hire Blac at-
tomeys. Opportunities for Black lawyers in
Michigan have changed dramatically over th
last decade. ow the American Bar Associa­
tion and other legal organizations are ddress­
ing the issues of minorities in the leg� profes­
sion. More than any other profe ional or­
ganization, I feel the legal profession is doing
this. I don't see the same kind of committment
among medical, architectural, or financial
professional organizations.
I would say the outloo is very po itiv for
minority students and lawyers. However, I
would encourage minority student to be realis­
tic in their outloo that' to ay, n t everyon
can b an entertainment lawyer or a corp rat
or patent attorney. You may have to leav the
area and you may h v a difficult time attract­
ing clients. Twenty y ars a 0 Black attorney
used to hav to k ep their full-tim j b in th
t e
that
ro er
-II i
o
erican
P t office or wherever, and practice 1 n
the side until they could build up a larg
enough clientele to practice full-time.
Law today requires total commit en. The
p r on with the best grade can .pi and
chose. Opportunities are greater with bett r
grades. Everyone wor hard in law ch 01 and
the student must willing to acrifice. ent
to chool at night and wor ed fulltim during
the day. I would recommend th t Bl c tu­
den g to chool during he day if p ibl.
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