State's First Black Federal Judge Resigns

Judge U.W. Clemon resigned after nearly three decades, sending a letter to President Obama praising the nation's first black chief executive. He called it the fulfillment of a lifelong dream to see an African-American president.

By: Jamie Burch | WKRG-TV
Published: January 21, 2009

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Alabama's first black federal judge has
resigned after nearly three decades, sending a letter to President
Obama praising the nation's first black chief executive.
U.S. District Judge U.W. Clemon of Birmingham, in a letter made
public Wednesday, said he was "ecstatic" over Obama's victory. He
called it the fulfillment of a lifelong dream to see an
African-American president.
Clemon is a former civil rights attorney and state senator. He
wrote that it became clear to him last spring that Obama had been
ordained by God to become president.
The 65-year-old Clemon will join the prominent Birmingham law
firm of White Arnold & Dowd P.C. on Feb. 1.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)