Otis M. Smith
Encyclopedia
Otis M. Smith was the first African American justice on the Michigan Supreme Court
and the General Counsel
for General Motors
.
Smith graduated from law school at The Catholic University of America
in 1950, where he was a member of the first volume of the school's Law Review.
He then went to Flint, Michigan, where he engaged in private practice until 1957. At that time he was appointed to the Michigan Public Service Commission.http://www.cis.state.mi.us/mpsc/about/chart.95.htm
From 1959 until 1961 Smith served as Michigan Auditor General
.
He was appointed a justice of the Michigan Supreme Court in 1961 by Governor John Swainson
. He lost a re-election bid in 1967, and was then hired by General Motors. He would rise to become vice-president and General Counsel. In 1983, his portrait was dedicated at the Michigan Supreme Court.http://www.micourthistory.org/resources/Special%20Sessions/O%20Smith%201983.php A portrait also hangs in the admissions of The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law
.http://law.cua.edu/News/2007%20Stories/Fall//Reunited.cfm
A scholarship in his name is administered by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. It is given to a single mother, and can be used for tuition at Wayne State University, any campus of the University of Michigan, or the law school at The Catholic University of America.http://www.cfsem.org/grants/how_to_apply/PDFs/Otis%20Smith-08.pdf
Michigan Supreme Court
The Michigan Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is known as Michigan's "court of last resort" and consists of seven justices who are elected to eight-year terms. Candidates are nominated by political parties and are elected on a nonpartisan ballot...
and the General Counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
for General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
.
Smith graduated from law school at The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
in 1950, where he was a member of the first volume of the school's Law Review.
He then went to Flint, Michigan, where he engaged in private practice until 1957. At that time he was appointed to the Michigan Public Service Commission.http://www.cis.state.mi.us/mpsc/about/chart.95.htm
From 1959 until 1961 Smith served as Michigan Auditor General
Michigan Auditor General
The Michigan Auditor General is the chief fiscal officer of the State of Michigan. The office was established in 1839 and has been made an electoral office in 1850. The first Michigan Auditor General was Robert Abbott, and the first elected Auditor General John Swegles, Jr....
.
He was appointed a justice of the Michigan Supreme Court in 1961 by Governor John Swainson
John Swainson
John Burley Swainson was a politician from the US state of Michigan, as well as the 42nd Governor of Michigan....
. He lost a re-election bid in 1967, and was then hired by General Motors. He would rise to become vice-president and General Counsel. In 1983, his portrait was dedicated at the Michigan Supreme Court.http://www.micourthistory.org/resources/Special%20Sessions/O%20Smith%201983.php A portrait also hangs in the admissions of The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law
Columbus School of Law
The Columbus School of Law, also known as CUA Law, is the law school of The Catholic University of America, in Washington, D.C..Over 900 Juris Doctor students attend CUA Law. Incoming classes are typically composed of two to three hundred students, including day and night programs. Around 3,500...
.http://law.cua.edu/News/2007%20Stories/Fall//Reunited.cfm
A scholarship in his name is administered by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. It is given to a single mother, and can be used for tuition at Wayne State University, any campus of the University of Michigan, or the law school at The Catholic University of America.http://www.cfsem.org/grants/how_to_apply/PDFs/Otis%20Smith-08.pdf
Sources
- Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society
- Flint Public Library
- Michigan Bar Journal
- 1990 interview with Roger F. Lane