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Francis E. Rivers (died July 28, 1975) was an American lawyer and judge who served in the New York State Assembly. He was a Republican. His father, David Foote Rivers, was a state representative in Tennessee.

He was the first African American to serve on the City Court of New York City (now the New York City Civil Court). In 1932, W. E. B. Du Bois wrote to Rivers seeking information about Dr. Hinton of Boston who Du Bois wanted to nominate for a Spingarn Medal. In 1966 he presented an award to Thurgood Marshall.

Several prominent members of the American Bar Association threatened to quit when Rivers was denied membership in the organization, which did not have any African American members. He defeated incumbent Abraham Grenthal in the 1929 election for state Assembly and served in the 153rd New York State Legislature in 1930.

See also

• List of African-American jurists
• List of first minority male lawyers and judges in New York
• African-American officeholders during and following the Reconstruction era

References

1. "REPUBLICANS: How He Did It". Time. July 5, 1948. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
2. Fowle, Farnsworth (July 29, 1975). "Francis E. Rivers Dies; Black City Judge Was 82 (Published 1975)". The New York Times.
3. "Letter from Francis e. Rivers to W. E. B. Du Bois, January 28, 1932".
4. "Convocation Dinner to honor Thurgood Marshall | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News". WNYC.
5. "QUIT BAR ASSOCIATION, CHARGING RACE BIAS; Judge Goldstein and A.G. Hays Protest Exclusion of Negro (Published 1943)". The New York Times. April 9, 1943.
6. "Judge Jonah Goldstein Quits Bar Association Because It Bars Negro from Membership". April 11, 1943.
7. "GRENTHAL DEFEATED IN ASSEMBLY RACE; Loses to F.E. Rivers in Contest in Harlem for Republican Nomination. BRODERICK IS LEADING W.W. Wemple Jr. Beats W.M. Nicol in Schenectady--Dry. Loses in Rochester". The New York Times. 18 September 1929.

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