On April 18, 1955, James B. Parsons was appointed chief judge of the Federal District Court in Chicago, making history as the first African American to hold that position. A former U.S. Navy officer and accomplished attorney, Parsons broke barriers in the judiciary at a time when the legal system remained deeply segregated. His appointment symbolized a shift in federal judicial inclusion and opened doors for future generations of Black legal professionals. Parsons later became the first Black federal district judge in U.S. history appointed for life by a president, cementing his legacy as a pioneer for racial equity in American law.
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