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Local leaders reflect on Judge Damon Keith's impact on the nation, city of Detroit

Judge Keith died at age 96
Judge Damon J. Keith, for whom the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights at Wayne State University is named after, has died, his family confirmed Sunday.
Posted at 10:20 AM, Apr 28, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-28 15:48:00-04

DETROIT (WXYZ) — Judge Damon J. Keith, for whom the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights at Wayne State University is named after, has died, his family confirmed Sunday.

Keith died at the age of 96 at his home in Detroit.

He earned his law degree from Wayne State Law School in 1956, and served as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit since 1977.

Several local elected-officials responded to Keith's passing Sunday.

Mayor Mike Duggan released the below statement regarding Keith's passing:

Detroit lost a dear friend this morning with the passing of Judge Damon Keith, and America lost a national treasure. Judge Keith left as indelible a mark on this nation and our city as any jurist in history. During his more than 50 years on the federal bench, he handed down rulings that have safeguarded some of our most important and cherished civil liberties, stopping illegal government wiretaps and secret deportation hearings, as well as ending the racial segregation of Pontiac schools. Here in Detroit, he opened the doors for countless young law clerks, many of who have gone on to become judges themselves. I have so many fond memories of Judge Keith. I was humbled and honored the two times he administered the oath of office when I was sworn in as Mayor. I will always treasure the Thanksgiving Day I spent with him in 2016, driving him in the parade as he served as Grand Marshal. America is a better place because it had Judge Keith to help safeguard our civil liberties. Our city is a better place because he spent every day of his life as a committed and involved Detroiter. We will miss him dearly.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also offered her condolences.

"Judge Damon Keith was a civil rights icon," the governor said in a statement. "In his decades of public service, he stood up for what was right, even if it meant facing attacks and threats from others. Because of his strength, his determination, and his commitment to ending racism in our country, Michigan is grateful and better for it. We should honor Judge Keith’s legacy by working together to build a Michigan where everybody, no matter who they are or where they come from, can get ahead.”

Whitmer added that she plans to order all U.S. and Michigan flags within the State Capitol Complex to be lowered to half-staff on the day of Judge Keith's internment.


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