Ninth Judicial District Displays

The Lemmon Case:  1852-1860: Freedom won for eight enslaved people in New York and justice takes a step forward

We are pleased to announce the unveiling of a very special exhibit on display from the New York State Courts historical society.

Message from Chief Judge Janet DiFiore:

“I am excited to inform you of a very special exhibit that is being officially unveiled today in the lobby today of the Westchester County Supreme Court in White Plains;   A Historic exhibit that tells the story of the Lemmon Slave rescue case -

A series of 1850s decisions by the New York Courts that ordered the release of 8 enslaved people including 6 children who were brought into New York  by their Virginia owners while in transit to Texas.  The Court of Appeals ruling in that case was in direct conflict with the Supreme Courts infamous Dred Scott decision of 1857 and it represented one of the most unyielding anti-slavery decisions made by any Court in the United State prior to the Civil War.

 We are grateful to the Historical Society on the New York Courts for creating this excellent exhibit on the Lemmon Slave case featuring  a short documentary narrated by James Earl Jones that brings to life the courageous lawyers judges and citizens including many New Yorkers of color who helped rescue and represent the 8 enslaved people.

 Over the next 90 weeks, the Lemmon Exhibit will travel to 45 Courthouses in every judicial district of the state and it will be displayed consist with prevailing covid health and safety protocols in the public areas of our courthouses in order to showcase the historical role of the New York State Courts in upholding fundamental rights and ensuring equal justice under law.

 I do encourage you to take the time to experience the exhibit in person and to tell your colleagues, families and friends all about it."

A Prelude to the Civil War: Adversity, Commitment and Triumph
Janet DiFiore, Chief Judge of the State of New York
James Earl Jones

The exhibit will be on display in the Ninth District on the following schedule. Stop by to experience the exhibit and learn more about this historic case in the following locations:
 

For more information and the full tour schedule please visit:

 https://history.nycourts.gov/common-threads-of-justice-lemmon-slave-case-videocast/

Thank you to the Historical Society of the New York State Courts.