[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 66 (Tuesday, May 15, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E804]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E804]]
             TRIBUTE TO ATTORNEY CONSTANCE SLAUGHTER-HARVEY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 15, 2001

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special 
tribute to Attorney Constance Slaughter-Harvey. Attorney Harvey is a 
persistent trail blazer in a world of challenges. For 31 years, she has 
dedicated her life to legal and public service.
  Attorney Harvey, a native of Scott County, received her undergraduate 
degree in Political Science and Economics from Tougaloo College in 
1967. In 1970, she became the first African American female to receive 
a law degree from the University of Mississippi.
  Upon graduation she was staff attorney for the Lawyers' Committee for 
Civil Rights Under Law, executive director of Southern Legal Rights and 
director of East Mississippi Legal Services.
  Among her other outstanding achievements, attorney Slaughter-Harvey 
is the first African American female to serve as Student Government 
President at Tougaloo College (1967); to be appointed to serve as judge 
in Mississippi (1976); to be the president (first female) of the 
National Association of State Elections Directors (1991); Executive 
Director of the Governor's Office of Human Development (1980-1984); and 
to serve as Assistant Secretary of State for Elections, Public Lands 
and General Counsel for the State of Mississippi (1984-1995).
  Attorney Slaughter-Harvey is the first African American female to 
receive the 2001 Outstanding Woman Lawyer Award given by the 
Mississippi Women Lawyers' Association.
  Among her honors is the Constance Slaughter Harvey Endowed Chair in 
Political Science/Pre-Law at Tougaloo College. The University of 
Mississippi named the Black Law Student Association in her honor in 
1998. She was 1 of 8 founders (the only female) of the National Black 
Law Student Association in 1969 at Rutgers in New Jersey.
  In 1970, she successfully argued Morrow v. Crisler, which led to the 
desegregation of the Mississippi Highway Patrol. She filed a 3.8 
million dollar lawsuit in 1970, Myrtle Green Burton v. John Bell 
Williams, against the state of Mississippi and other defendants for 
wrongful deaths of Jackson State student, Phillip Gibbs and Jim Hill 
student, James Earl Green.
  Presently she is engaged in private practice in Scott County. She is 
president of Elections, Inc, the Scott County Bar Association, the 
Magnolia Bar Association and the W.L. and Olivia Slaughter Memorial 
Foundation. The W.L. and Olivia Slaughter Memorial Foundation is a 
tribute to the legacy of her parents who lived in Forest and the legacy 
includes a foundation, library, residential subdivision and office 
building complex where her law office is located. She has been an 
adjunct professor at Tougaloo College or 31 years.
  Mr. Speaker, Attorney Harvey is proudly recognized by the state of 
Mississippi and the United States of America as a visionary for all 
people. On behalf of the people of the 2nd Congressional district, I 
salute her.

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