Nix, Robert N. C. Jr.

1928-2003 · Contribution: 1984

First African American chief justice of a state supreme court

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Law & Civil Rights

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Impact on the world

Became the first African American to serve as chief justice of a U.S. state supreme court in 1984, leading the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Life & background

Admitted to the bar around 1954, Nix became the first African American chief justice of a state supreme court in 1984, leading the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, a significant judicial leadership milestone.

Sources

  1. Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts (Robert N.C. Nix, Jr.); Pennsylvania Courts official biography (pacourts.us); BlackPast.org