Federal Judge Damon J. Keith, Champion Of Civil Rights, Dies At 96

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With Meghna Chakrabarti

Judge Damon J. Keith died Sunday at the age of 96. We look back at his legacy as one of the nation's longest-serving federal judges.

Denise Page Hood, chief judge for the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan.

Peter Hammer, director of the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights at Wayne State University Law School (@_WayneLaw). Editor of Judge Keith’s biography, "Crusader for Justice: Federal Judge Damon J Keith."

NPR: "Judge Damon J. Keith, Judicial Giant And Civil Rights Icon, Dies At 96" — "Judge Damon J. Keith died today at the age of 96. The Detroit native, one of the nation's longest-serving federal judges, was a tireless champion of civil rights and civil liberties.

"Born in 1922, Keith was the grandson of enslaved people.

"He went on to become the sixth African American in U.S. history to serve on the federal court of appeals.

"During his time on the bench, he made a series of landmark decisions that changed the social and legal landscape of the country.

"His outstanding accomplishments were all the more remarkable in light of the obstacles of racial bigotry with which he was repeatedly confronted."

Grace Tatter produced this segment for broadcast.