WHO IS D. AUGUSTUS STRAKER?

The D. Augustus Straker Bar Association is named in honor of D. Augustus Straker, the pioneering African-American attorney, author and jurist. He was born in Bridgetown, Barbados, in the West Indies. As a young man, Straker studied philosophy, French, and Latin. He later came to the United States to educate former slaves and received his law degree from Howard University in 1871. In 1875, after working for the United States Department of Treasury, Straker was appointed an Inspector of Customs at Columbia, South Carolina. In 1876, he was elected to the South Carolina legislature and re-elected twice thereafter. Later, Straker became the Dean of Law at Allen University, a small African American institution located in Columbia, South Carolina.

After his tenure at Allen University, Straker relocated to Detroit to practice law. In the course of his practice, Straker became the first African-American attorney to appear before the Michigan Supreme Court. In Ferguson v Gies, 82 Mich 358 (1890), Straker successfully argued that the "separate but equal" doctrine was unconstitutional under Michigan law. The unanimous decision was remarkable given the doctrine's rapidly rising tide which reached its epic three years later in the United States Supreme Court decision in Plessey v Ferguson, 163 US 537 (1893). Gies has come to be known as Michigan's "Great Civil Rights Case."

Gies, which was decided on October 10, 1890, actually preceded by some 64 years the landmark United States Supreme Court decision in Brown v Board of Education which ushered in the modern civil rights era. A few years after the Gies decision, Straker was elected the first African-American jurist in Michigan. In 1892, he became a Wayne County Circuit Court Commissioner. He served two terms.

Clearly, Michigan's civil rights heritage owes much to the memory of D. Augustus Straker. In choosing his name, the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association seeks to honor D. Augustus Straker and his dedication to the practice of law.

History and Mission

The D. Augustus Straker Bar Association was formed October 4, 1990, as a special purpose bar association recognized by the State Bar of Michigan. It was founded as a proactive organization of diverse attorneys, with a mission of promoting legal practice opportunities for minorities and women and to facilitate equal justice for all citizens in Oakland County. Membership includes a racially diverse coalition of lawyers, judges, and other legal professionals.

The mission of the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association is to increase minority representation in the legal profession, support and encourage legal practice opportunities for minorities, and facilitate equal justice for underserved members of the Oakland County community.

Welcome to the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association!

Whether you are a long-time member, new member, or a friend of Straker, we thank you for your interest.

"Leading with Our Legacy" - this bar year's theme - is key to our continued growth and success. The insight, experience, and dedication of our Membership drive our current efforts and serve as inspiration for our future.

This bar year, we will have well-structured pro bono service, boost outreach to law students and high school students, provide programming to re-energize any legal practice, and act to improve social and economic justice for underrepresented communities. Through our community outreach and volunteer efforts, Membership Meetings, Minority Bar Passage Program, Corporate Counsel Breakfast, and MLK Drum Major for Justice Oral Advocacy Competition, we have something for everyone.

I encourage you to get involved, suggest a new program, or share your expertise! Our Membership is the lifeline of this organization. Your Straker Bar Association looks forward to continued service to Oakland County, Metro Detroit, the State of Michigan, and beyond.

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