Michigan Supreme Court Territorial Times to the 1950s: Decisions Affecting African Americans

Territorial Cases

Judge Woodward:1807 Denison v Tucker: slaves returned to Tucker who was deemed to be lawful master of the Denisons In Matter of Richard Pattinson: Woodward decided not to return fugitive slaves Two cases demonstrate conflict between what was viewed as the immorality of slavery and an obligation to and interpretation of the laws

Voting Gordon v Farrar: Supreme Court found that voting was exclusive to white males, 1844 People v Dean: Justices Campbell, Cooley and Christiancy defined white as “less than ¼ African blood” Hedgeman v Board of Registration: Court held that free blacks were not citizens

Education Workman v Detroit Board of Education, 1869 “Separate but Equal” Doctrine dismissed Public school admission based on race ruled illegal 1871: William W. Ferguson first African American admitted to Detroit Public School system Legal victory without practical application, schools continued to be segregated

Public Accommodations Day v Owen, 1858 Ferguson v Gies, 1890 Bolden v Grand Rapids Operating Corp, 1927

Day v Owen, 1858 Denied passage on a steamer from Detroit to Toledo Sued for damages Court ruled that ultimately the defendant had the right to decide who would ride on his steamer

Ferguson v Gies, 1890 Came after Civil Rights legislation, Act 130 Counteracted ideology of Day v Owen “In Michigan, there must be absolute, unconditional equality of White and Colored before the Law”- Justice Morse Prominent African American representation Justice Morse

Bolden v Grand Rapids Operating Corp, 1927 Gave African Americans right to sue for damages if discriminated against Michigan’s Civil Rights Statute was found to be constitutional exercise of the state’s police powers

William W. Ferguson Prominent Detroit business owner of a printing company Became a lawyer in 1897 First African American elected to Michigan Legislature

D. Augustus Straker African-American lawyer from the Bahamas, represented Ferguson One of the first minorities to argue before the Michigan Supreme Court Included in 1900 time capsule that was recently opened

Restrictive Covenants Most commonly, refusing housing based on racial restrictions Parmalee v Morris,1922: upheld racially restrictive covenants Sipes v McGhee, 1947: Led to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that states could not enforce racially restrictive covenants

Ramifications The Michigan Supreme Court made powerful decisions, promoting change or maintaining the status quo, and whether positive or negative the Court has an undeniable impact on our lives. The cases chosen represent medley of the Court’s work Historically, the Court reflected the conservative beliefs of Midwestern Michigan society