Law School Welcomes Justice Reuben Anderson for Constitution Day

The Constitution Day event, at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday (Sept. 17) in Weems Auditorium, is co-sponsored by the Declaration of Independence Center for the Study of American Freedom. It is free and open to the public.

"This fall marks the 60th anniversary of Justice Anderson's enrollment at the UM law school in 1965," said Fred Slabach, the school's dean. "He was the first Black graduate of the law school in 1967, and we are honored to have him speak for Constitution Day."

Anderson attended the Ole Miss law school because he aspired to become a civil rights lawyer.

"I had faculty reach out to help me and one asked me, 'What are you going to do when you're through being a civil rights lawyer?' which astonished me because I thought I would be a civil rights lawyer my whole life at that time," he said. "I learned from that professor that I needed to expand my view of the world, and he suggested I read The Wall Street Journal every day.

"And I took him up on that and it broadened my perspective."

Audience members will have hear Anderson share his background and decision to attend law school during the school's efforts toward integration, as well as his student experiences and the development of his legal and judicial careers.

Anderson's judicial career included serving as a municipal judge for the city of Jackson, a county court judge for Hinds County and circuit court judge for the 7th circuit court district. He was the first Black justice on the Mississippi Supreme Court, serving from 1985 to 1991.

He practiced in the areas of commercial litigation and regulatory and governmental matters with the law firm of Phelps Dunbar, and recently retired.

Jade Craig, assistant professor of law, will serve as the event's moderator.

"Justice Anderson will also speak about the significance of law students and lawyers in the work of upholding the Constitution and preserving our democracy," Craig said.

"I hope attendees see the transformative power of the law to further the cause of justice, leave inspired about the difference that one person can make when they are committed to their profession and to their community. I also hope that they leave more aware of the Constitution's potential to unite and hold us together as a nation."