[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 48 (Thursday, March 12, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1735-S1736]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING CHARLES FREEMAN

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, On April 29, 1983, Justice Charles Freeman 
made history as the first African-American jurist to swear in Chicago's 
first, elected African-American mayor, Harold Washington. Justice 
Freeman went on to become the first, and so far the only, African-
American justice to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court. During his 
more than four decades, Justice Freeman helped shape Illinois's history 
through his achievements, his jurisprudence, and his mentoring of a 
generation of new lawyers he guided to the bench. On March 2, he passed 
away, and I rise today to honor his memory.
  Charles Freeman was born in Richmond, VA, in 1933. He was descended 
from slaves freed by Quakers before the Civil War. As a child, he 
brought newspapers to legendary civil rights attorney Oliver W. Hill's 
office. His father was a hard-working man who loved to read and always 
stressed that he wanted Charles and his brother to become lawyers. The 
Freemans lived walking distance from Virginia Union University in 
Richmond, and that is where Charles and his brother went to college. 
Charles Freeman graduated from college in 1954 and served in the U.S. 
Army from 1956 to 1958, stationed in South Korea. After his service, he 
married Marylee Voelker and moved to Chicago. While in Chicago, he 
attended John Marshall Law School at night, and he worked for the Cook 
County Department of Public Aid.
  After law school, Justice Freeman started working as a precinct 
worker for former Representative Ralph H. Metcalfe, cofounder of the 
Congressional Black Caucus. Justice Freeman befriended Harold 
Washington while helping Metcalfe, and they formed a law practice 
partnership. In 1965, Governor Otto Kerner appointed Freeman arbitrator 
for the Illinois Industrial Commission administrating workers' 
compensation cases. In 1973, Governor Dan Walker appointed him a 
commissioner for the Illinois Commerce Commission.
  In 1976, Justice Freeman was elected to serve as a judge on the Cook 
County Circuit Court. In 1986, he was elected to the Illinois Appellate 
Court, and 4 years later, he became the first African American elected 
to the Illinois Supreme Court. His peers chose him to serve as chief 
justice in 1997 until 2000. As chief justice, Freeman reorganized the 
rotation of appellate judges in the First Judicial District. Before, 
appellate judges sat on the same panels for

[[Page S1736]]

their entire careers. He helped improve the Family Violence Prevention 
Program. Justice Freeman also improved the educational program for 
judges statewide and pushed for the creation of a special committee to 
study the death penalty and reforms.
  While Justice Freeman was a great jurist, his legacy is also 
reflected in his efforts to promote a diverse judiciary. He appointed 
11 of the 16 African Americans who have served on the First District 
Appellate Court since 1990. It was important to him that people saw in 
the courtroom judges and lawyers that reflected society. He mentored so 
many in the field.
  During his career, Justice Freeman received many awards for his 
service, including the Freedom Award from the John Marshall Law School, 
the Seymour Simon Justice Award from the Jewish Judges Association, the 
Earl Burrus Dickerson Award from the Chicago Bar Association, and the 
Ira B. Platt Award and the Presidential Award from the Cook County Bar 
Association.
  Charles Freeman is survived by his son Kevin and daughter-in-law 
Cami, by two grandchildren, and by his brother James. I want to extend 
my sympathies to his family and loved ones. The loss of Justice Freeman 
is a loss for our State and for the whole country.

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