R. Eugene Pincham was a pioneering African American

African American

African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...

 civil rights

Civil rights

Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...

 attorney

Lawyer

A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...

, judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois

Cook County, Illinois

Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...

, justice of the Appellate Court of Illinois, and ardent critic of the U.S. criminal justice system (also see Race Inequalities in the Criminal Justice System). Known for his enrapturing oratory which drew on his own personal struggles and those of African Americans, and his tireless advocacy on behalf of those who could less speak for themselves, he was regarded by many in Illinois and particularly the African American community, as a political and legal icon, and held as a role model by both blacks and whites who came behind him.

A member of the American Civil Liberties Union

American Civil Liberties Union

The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...

 and a lifetime member of the NAACP, the semi-retired Pincham lectured and instructed in trial and appellate techniques and advocacy. He received numerous awards for his professional and community service and activism.

R. Eugene died of complications from lung and brain cancer.

The funeral was held in private at the South Side church, and culminated in remarks by Rev. Jeremiah Wright

Jeremiah Wright

Jeremiah Alvesta Wright, Jr. is Pastor Emeritus of Trinity United Church of Christ , a megachurch in Chicago exceeding 6,000 members...

Jr.

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