Atlanta Daily World

Mollison Appointment
To
Judgeship
Sets
Precedent

First Federal
Appointment Of
Rank In Nation

CHICAGO—
(ANP)— President
Truman appointed Atty. Irvin C.
Mollison last week to the judgeship
of the U. S. Customs court in New
York City, marking the first time in
American history a Negro has been
named a federal judge within con-
tinental United States.

The United States Customs court,
with headquarters in New York
City, is one of the nation's most im-
portant federal courts where ques-
tions affecting government revenue
and custom duties, which vitally
affect the nation's industry, busi-
ness & its commercial relationships
with other nations of the world.

EXTENSIVE PRACTICE
Mollison, a graduate of the uni-
versity of Chicago Law School, has
had an extensive law practice here
since 1923 and is a member of U.
S. Supreme court bar, the U. S.
Circuit court of appeals, 7th cir-
cuit, the district court of the Unit-
ed State, northern district of Illi-
nois; the U. S. Emergency court of
appeals, the U S. Tax court and
is also licensed to practice before
the treasury department.

"I am deeply grateful to President
Truman for his appointment of me
as a judge of the United States Cus-
toms court," he said. "This appoint-
ment is an important recognition of
colored citizens of our country and
is another expression of the Presi-
dent's announced policy of justice
and fairness to all Americans."

WIDE SERVICE
The 47-year-old lawyer was given
a three-year appointment
as a
member of the board of directors
of the Chicago Public library by
Mayor Edward J. Kelly on October
11, 1938, and was reappointed for
another three year term on June 23
1945. He was also made a member
of the board of education here on
January 7, 1944, for a term expiring

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Mollison
(Continued from page 1)
on April 30, 1944, and was reap-
pointed for another three-year- term on June 23, 1945. He was al-
so made a member of the board of education here on January 7,
1944 for a term expiring on April
30 1944, and reappointed by Mayor Kelly on the following June 14 for a five-year term.
Atty Mollison has been actively identified with the local branch of the NAACP for many years in its fight against all forms of racial in-
justices against Negro citizens. He is a member of the National N. A. A. C. P. Legal committee and has lately participated in a number of court battles against anti-Negro restrictive covenants.
NAACP MERIT AWARD
He was given the NAACP merit award in June, 1936, during the 27th annual NAACP conference there and served as president of the Illinois State conference of the NAACP from 1933 to 1940. He has also served as secretary and mem-
ber of the board of trustees of Provident Hospital and Training School association from 1942 un-
til now.
The appointee, born in Vicksburg Miss., is also a member of the Cook County Bar association, Illinois State Bar association and National Lawyers guild, a member of the board of directors of the Chicago chapter of National Lawyers guild in 1944 and 1945.as well as a mem-
ber of the City club of Chicago. He was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa society upon graduation from· the University of Chicago in 1923 with the degree of doctor of law.
His wife, Alice a social worker. is the daughter of Henry A Rucker. who served as collector of internal revenue for the district of Georgia for 13 years during the admini-
strations of Presidents William Mc-
Kinley and Theodore Roosevelt.