Posted on May 7, 2010

Black Lawyer, Rejected in 1847, Admitted to Bar Today

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 4, 2010

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ordered a black lawyer rejected from practicing law in 1847 in Allegheny County because of his race to be posthumously awarded admission to the bar.

George Vashon graduated from Oberlin College in 1844 and went on to study law in Western Pennsylvania under then Judge Walter Forward. {snip}

Pittsburgh attorney Wendell Freeland read about Mr. Vashon’s case and along with some of his relatives filed a petition with the state Supreme Court earlier this year. The petition asked Pennsylvania to amend the records to show Mr. Vashon was qualified to be a lawyer.

{snip}