Damon Jerome Keith
 

Hon. Damon Jerome Keith
Firm: United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
Address: 540 Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse
100 E. Fifth Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202-3988
Phone: (513) 564-7000
Fax: (513) 564-7097
E-mail:
Web site: http://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/
Position Bar Admissions Education
Honors Published Works Affiliations
Current Employment Position(s):
Senior Judge, since May 1, 1995

Appointed 1977
Bar Admissions:
Michigan, 1950
Education:
Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, Michigan, 1956
LL.M., Master of Law(s)

Howard University School of Law, Washington, District of Columbia, 1949
LL.B.

West Virginia State College, Institute, West Virginia, 1943
B.A., Bachelor of Arts

Published Works:
Foreword, Symposium: Equal Protection, the Standards of Review: The Path Taken and the Road Beyond, 57 Detroit Journal of Urban Law 701, 1980

What Happens to a Dream Deferred: An Assessment of Civil Rights Law Twenty Years After the 1963 March on Washington, 19 Harvard C.R.-C.L. Law Review 469, 1984

The Bar Opens its Doors, 64 Michigan Bar Journal 83(3), 1985

Article, Civil Liberties and Criminal Law, Courses by Newspaper, A University of California Extension Program, Courses by Newspaper, a University of California Extension program, 1977

Who Are the Guilty?: Crime, Justice and Punishment in America, Courses by Newspaper, A University of California Extension Program, 1977

Hearts and Minds: The Anatomy of Racism from Roosevelt to Reagan, 87 University of Michigan Law Review 4, p. 1040, 1983

'We the People' Have Lots to Celebrate, Detroit Free Press, Jan. 29, 1987

A Responsibility to Serve Black Community, Detroit Free Press, Nov. 24, 1988

Baker v. City of Detroit (458 F.Supp. 374), Eastern District of Michigan, 1978

Ghandi v. Police Department of Detroit (74 F.R.D. 115), Eastern District of Michigan, 1977

United States v. Sinclair (321 F. Supp. 1074), Eastern District of Michigan, 1971, (444 F.2d 651), Sixth Circuit, aff'd, (407 U.S. 297), 1972

United States v. Sinclair (321 F.Supp. 1074), Eastern District of Michigan, New York Times, June 20, 1972

United States v. Sinclair (321 F. Supp. 1074), Eastern District of Michigan, 83 Yale Law Journal 546 and 123 University of Pennsylvania Law Review 750

United States v. Haulman (288 F.Supp. 775), Eastern District of Michigan, 1968

Davis v. School District of Pontiac, Inc., (309 F.Supp. 734), Eastern District of Michigan, 1970, add'd., (443 F.2d 573), Sixth Circuit, 1970, (404 U.S. 913), 1971

Madison Realty Co. v. Detroit (315 F.Supp. 367), Eastern District of Michigan, 1970

Garrett v. City of Hamtramck (335 F. Supp. 87), Eastern District of Michigan, 1971, (357 F.Supp. 925), Eastern District of Michigan, 1973

Stamps v. Detroit Edison Co. (365 F.Supp. 87), Eastern District of Michigan, 1973

E.E.O.C. v. Detroit Edison Co. (515 F.2d 301), Sixth Circuit, 1975, (431 U.S. 951), 1977, and 9 Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review, 1974

Classes/Seminars Taught:
Lecturer, Distinguished Visiting Lecture Series, Howard University, 1972

Guest Lecturer, William H. Hastie Lecture Series, Howard University Law School, 1981

Lecturer Bicentennial of the Constitution, West Virginia State College, 1987

Keynote Speaker, Black Law Students Association, Harvard Law School, 1987

Lecturer in the Frank Strong Lecture Series, Ohio State University Law School, 1992

Lecturer in the Third Annual Joseph Solomon Lecture Series, New York Law School, 1992

"NAACP: Paladin of the People." 75th Annual NAACP Convention upon receipt of Spingarm Medal

Honors and Awards:
Honorary Doctorate Degree, West Virginia State College

Honorary Doctorate Degree, Wayne State University

Honorary Doctorate Degree, Howard University

Honorary Doctorate Degree, Lincoln University

Honorary Doctorate Degree, University of Detroit

Honorary Doctorate Degree, Atlanta University

Honorary Doctorate Degree, Detroit College of Law

Honorary Doctorate Degree, University of Michigan

Honorary Doctorate Degree, New York Law School

Honorary Doctorate Degree, Michigan State University

Honorary Doctorate Degree, Marygrove College

Honorary Doctorate Degree, Detroit Institute of Technology

Honorary Doctorate Degree, Shaw College

Honorary Doctorate Degree, Central State University

Honorary Doctorate Degree, Yale University

Honorary Doctorate Degree, Loyola Law School (Los Angeles)

Honorary Doctorate Degree, Eastern Michigan University

Honorary Doctorate Degree, Virginia Union University

Honorary Doctorate Degree, Central Michigan University

Honorary Doctorate Degree, Morehouse College

Honorary Doctorate Degree, Western Michigan University

Honorary Doctorate Degree, Tuskegee University

Honorary Doctorate Degree, Georgetown University

Honorary Doctorate Degree, Hofstra University

Honorary Doctorate Degree, DePaul University

Honorary Doctorate Degree, Ohio State University

Honorary Doctorate Degree, Bowling Green State University

Honorary Doctorate Degree, College of William and Mary

Spingarn Medal, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), 1974

Equal Opportunity Award, Detroit Urban League, 1975

Bill of Rights Award, Jewish Community Council, 1977

Special Award for Judicial Excellence, Georgia Conference of Black Lawyers, 1977

Scholarship and Dedication Award, National Association of Black Accountants, 1977

A. Philip Randolph Award, Detroit Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, 1981

Human Rights Day Award, B'nai B'rith Women's Council of Metropolitan Detroit, 1981

Award, Detroit Chapter of National Association of Black Journalists, 1982

Special Certificate of Appreciation, Black Law Students Association of Harvard Law School, 1982

Award, Minority Advisory Panel of the Michigan Bell Company, 1982

Award, Afro-Asian Institute of Histadrut, Israel, 1982

Award, March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, 1982

Civil Rights Lecturer Award, Creighton University Ahmanson Law Center, 1983

8th Annual Equal Justice Award, National Bar Association

Presidents Award, Exemplary Service to the Legal Community, Detroit Bar Association, 1988

Menorah Award, Afro-Asian Institute Histadrut of Israel, 1988

Selected as one of the 'One Hundred Most Influential Black Americans', Ebony Magazine, 1971 - 1992

Distinguished Service Award, Howard University, 1972

Judicial Independence Award, American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, 1973

Judge of the Year Award, National Conference Black Lawyers, 1974

Federal Judge of the Year, Black Law Students Association, 1974

Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Black Community - National Association of Black Social Workers, 1974

William H. Hastie Award, Judicial Council of the National Bar Association, 1981

Robert L. Millender Award, Michigan Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, 1982

Mercy Medallion Award, Mercy College of Detroit, 1984

National Human Relations Award, Greater Detroit Roundtable of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, 1984

Knights of Charity Award, Pontifical Institute for Mission Extension, 1986

Distinguished Public Service Award, Michigan Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, 1987

Black Achievement Award, The Equitable Financial Companies, 1987

Distinguished Public Service Award, National Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, 1988

Governor's Minuteman Award, The Rotary Club of Lansing, 1991

Champion of Justice Award, The State Bar of Michigan, 1991

C. Francis Stratford Award, The National Bar Association, 1992

Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Award, The Progressive National Baptist Convention, 1992

Thurgood Marshall Award, The Wolverine Bar Association, 1993

Damon J. Keith Elementary School Dedicated by the Detroit Board of Education, 1974

Honored by Governor James Blanchard, State of Michigan, in Recognition of Twenty Years as a Federal Judge, 1987

Dr. George Derry Award, Marygrove College of Detroit, 1988

One Nation Award, The Patriots Foundation/General Motors Corporation, Joint Recipient with General Colin Powell, 1989

First Annual Move Detroit Forward Award, Presented by Mayor Coleman A. Young of the City of Detroit, 1990

15th Michigan Legal Milestone 'The Uninvited Ear', State Bar, Detroit Bar Association, 1991

Outstanding Citizen Award, Michigan Chronicle, 1974

Annual Judicial Award, National Bar Association, 1971

Alumni Award, Distinguished Postgraduate Achievement in, Law and Social Justice, 127th Anniversary of the Founding of Howard University, 1994

International Heritage Hall of Fame, International Institute of Detroit, 1995

One of 15 Legal Legends of the Century, Detroit Legal News, 1995

Damon J. Keith Annual Civic and Humanitarian Award, Highland Park YMCA, 1984

The Establishment of the Damon J. Keith Law Collection, 1993

Honored by National Lawyers Guild-Detroit Chapter, 56th Anniversary Dinner, November 20, 1993

Michigan Chrinocle Outstanding Citizen Award, 1960

Michigan Chrinocle Outstanding Citizen Award, 1964

Emancipation Freedom Award, Windsor

Annual Judicial Award, National Bar Association

Independence Award, American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan

Outstanding Trial Judge Award, Michigan Trial Lawyers Association, 1974

Michigan State University Distinguished Citizen Award, 1974

Springarn Medal, NAACP, 1974

"Damon J. Keith Middle School" established by Detroit School Board, 1976 - Present

Trumpet Award, Turner Broadcasting System, 1991, 2000

Wade Hampton McCree, Jr. Award for the Advancement of Social Justice, 1995 - Present

Thurgood Marshall Award, American Bar Association, 1997 - Present

Roeper School Golden Apple Award, 1997 - Present

Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award, 1998 - Present

Spirit of Excellence Award, American Bar Association, 2001 - Present

Professional Associations and Memberships:
American Bar Association
Member

National Bar Association
Member

Detroit Bar Association
Member

Wolverine Bar Association
Member

Michigan Bar Association
Member

American Judicature Society
Member

Judicial Conference, 1975 - 1981
Member, Judicial Conference Committee

Advisory Committee on Codes of Conduct, 1979 - 1986
Appointed Member

Judicial Conference of the United States, 1975 - 1977
District Judge Representative from the Sixth Circuit

Committee on Court Administration, 1983 - 1987
Member, Subcommittee on Supporting Personnel

National Lawyers Guild
Member

Wayne County
Member, Board of Supervisors

Tabernacle Baptist Church
Deacon

Committee for the Administration of Federal Probation System
Member

Detroit YMCA
Member, Committee on Management

Detroit Area Council, Boy Scouts of America
Member

United Negro College Fund
General Co-Chairman

Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Vice Chairman

Leukemia Society of America, Inc.
Member, Board of Trustees, Michigan Chapter

Detroit Board Table of the National Conference of Christians and Jews
Member, Board of Directors

Interlochen Arts Academy
Trustee

Cranbrook School
Trustee

Wayne State University Law School
Member, Visiting Committee

University of Notre Dame Law School Advisory Council
Member

University of Detroit
Member, Board of Trustees

Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church
Deacon

Committee on the Bicentennial of the Constitution of the Sixth Circuit, 1985 - Present
Chairman, Appointed by Chief Justice W.E. Burger

Judicial Conference Committee on the Bicentennial of the Constitution, 1987 - Present
National Chairman, Appointed by Chief Justice W.H. Rehnquist

Citizens Council for Michigan Public Universities, 1991 - Present
Chairman, Appointed by Presidents Council

Brown v. Board of Education, 40 Years Confronting the Promise, 1993
Executive Chair, Conference at College of William & Mary, Virginia

Board of Federal Judicial Center Subcommittee on Legislative Proposals, 1985
to Permit Acceptance of Gifts in Support Mission, Appointed Member

Citizens Council for Michigan Public Universities, 1991 - Present
Chairman

Judicial Conference Committee on the Bicentennial of the United States, 1990 - Present
Constitution, National Chairman

Advisory Committee on Codes of Conduct, 1979 - 1985

Committee of Court Administration, 1983 - 1987

Subcommittee of Supporting Personnel, 1983 - 1987

Probation Committee

Past Employment Positions:
United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Chief Judge, 1975 - 1977

United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, United States District Judge, 1967 - 1977

Keith, Conyers, Anderson, Brown & Wahls, Detroit, Michigan, Private Practice, 1964 - 1967

Private Practice, Detroit, Michigan, 1950 - 1967

Office of Friend of the Court, Attorney, 1951 - 1955

United States Army, Staff Sergeant, 1943 - 1946

Birth Information:
1922, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
Profile Last Updated:
10/30/2012
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