George Bundy Smith
Encyclopedia
George Bundy Smith is a retired judge in New York
State. While he was a law student at Yale University
, he was part of the Freedom Ride
from
Atlanta, Georgia, to Montgomery, Alabama (May 24-25, 1961).
and attended Phillips Academy
, where he was the only African-American in the Class of 1955. He received an A.B. degree from Yale University
in 1959 and an LL.B. from Yale Law School
in 1962. In 1961, William Sloane Coffin
invited second-year law student Smith to go to Montgomery, Alabama
as a Freedom Rider. He and ten other Freedom Riders were arrested in the Montgomery bus station
and convicted of breach of the peace; their convictions were later reversed by the United States Supreme Court.
from 1975–86 and an associate justice of the Supreme Court of New York from 1987-92. Governor Mario Cuomo
appointed him to a 14-year term on the New York Court of Appeals
in September 1992. Although politicians such as David Dinkins
and Charles Rangel urged outgoing Governor George Pataki
to reappoint Smith, he nominated Eugene F. Pigott, Jr. to the seat.
In December 2005, Smith was awarded the William Nelson Cromwell
Award by the New York County Lawyers Association. Smith served several terms on the Board of Trustees
of the Horace Mann School
.
Smith's twin sister, Inez Smith Reid, is a judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals
.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
State. While he was a law student at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, he was part of the Freedom Ride
Freedom ride
Freedom Riders were civil rights activists who rode interstate buses into the segregated southern United States to test the United States Supreme Court decisions Boynton v. Virginia and Morgan v. Virginia...
from
Atlanta, Georgia, to Montgomery, Alabama (May 24-25, 1961).
Early life
Smith grew up in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and attended Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy is a selective, co-educational independent boarding high school for boarding and day students in grades 9–12, along with a post-graduate year...
, where he was the only African-American in the Class of 1955. He received an A.B. degree from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1959 and an LL.B. from Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
in 1962. In 1961, William Sloane Coffin
William Sloane Coffin
William Sloane Coffin, Jr. was an American liberal Christian clergyman and long-time peace activist. He was ordained in the Presbyterian church and later received ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ....
invited second-year law student Smith to go to Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
as a Freedom Rider. He and ten other Freedom Riders were arrested in the Montgomery bus station
Greyhound Bus Station (Montgomery, Alabama)
The Greyhound Bus Station at 210 South Court Street in Montgomery, Alabama, was the site of a violent attack on participants in the 1961 Freedom Ride during the Civil Rights Movement...
and convicted of breach of the peace; their convictions were later reversed by the United States Supreme Court.
Career
Smith was a judge of the Civil Court of New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from 1975–86 and an associate justice of the Supreme Court of New York from 1987-92. Governor Mario Cuomo
Mario Cuomo
Mario Matthew Cuomo served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994, and is the father of Andrew Cuomo, the current governor of New York.-Early life:...
appointed him to a 14-year term on the New York Court of Appeals
New York Court of Appeals
The New York Court of Appeals is the highest court in the U.S. state of New York. The Court of Appeals consists of seven judges: the Chief Judge and six associate judges who are appointed by the Governor to 14-year terms...
in September 1992. Although politicians such as David Dinkins
David Dinkins
David Norman Dinkins is a former politician from New York City. He was the Mayor of New York City from 1990 through 1993; he was the first and is, to date, the only African American to hold that office.-Early life:...
and Charles Rangel urged outgoing Governor George Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
to reappoint Smith, he nominated Eugene F. Pigott, Jr. to the seat.
In December 2005, Smith was awarded the William Nelson Cromwell
William Nelson Cromwell
William Nelson Cromwell was an American attorney active in promotion of the Panama Canal and other major ventures.He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised there by his mother, Sarah M. Brokaw, a Civil War widow...
Award by the New York County Lawyers Association. Smith served several terms on the Board of Trustees
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the Horace Mann School
Horace Mann School
Horace Mann School is an independent college preparatory school in New York City, New York, United States founded in 1887 known for its rigorous course of studies. Horace Mann is a member of the Ivy Preparatory School League, educating students from all across the New York tri-state area from...
.
Smith's twin sister, Inez Smith Reid, is a judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals
District of Columbia Court of Appeals
The District of Columbia Court of Appeals is the highest court of the District of Columbia. Established by the United States Congress in 1970, it is equivalent to a state supreme court, except that its power derives from Article I of the U.S. Constitution rather than from the inherent sovereignty...
.