Pa. court: Black lawyer rejected by Pa. bar in 1847 because of race admitted posthumously

Black lawyer rejected for Pa. bar in 1847 admitted

PITTSBURGH — The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ordered a black lawyer rejected from practicing law in 1847 in Allegheny County because of his race to be posthumously awarded admission to the bar.

George Vashon graduated from Oberlin College in 1844 and went on to study law in western Pennsylvania under then Judge Walter Forward. But when Vashon applied to practice law in Allegheny County, he was rejected because he was black.

Pittsburgh attorney Wendell Freeland read about Vashon’s case and along with some of his relatives filed a petition with the state Supreme Court earlier this year. The petition asked Pennsylvania to amend the records to show Vashon was qualified to be a lawyer.

The court issued its decision Tuesday.

Vashon later went on to become the first black lawyer in New York state.