Harold A. Stevens
- November 9, 1990
- 83 years
About Harold A. Stevens
Harold A. Stevens, 83, American judge.
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Full Biography
|Harold Arnoldus Stevens (October 19, 1907 – November 9, 1990) was an American lawyer and judge who served on the New York Court of General Sessions and New York Court of Appeals.
Early life and education
He was born on October 19, 1907, in Johns Island, South Carolina, the William F. Stevens and Lilla L. (Johnson) Stevens. His father died when he was three years old and Harold left Johns Island, and moved to Columbia, South Carolina with his mother and maternal grandparents, the Reverend and Mrs. C.H. Johnson. Later his mother remarried. Harold attended Claflin College High School and earned a Bachelor's Degree from Benedict College in 1930. He headed to Boston, after he was rejected from the then-segregated University of South Carolina Law School. In 1936 he was the first black American to get an LL.B. degree in labor law from Boston College.
In the 1940s he was a counsel to the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and the Provisional Committee to Organize Colored Locomotive Firemen. He was a veteran of World War II. He was a member of the New York State Assembly (New York Co., 13th D.) from 1947 to 1950, sitting in the 166th and 167th New York State Legislatures.
Service as a judge
In 1950, he was elected to the New York Court of General Sessions. In 1955, he was appointed by Governor W. Averell Harriman to the New York Supreme Court to fill a vacancy. In November 1955, he was elected to a fourteen-year term. He sat on the Appellate Division (1st Dept.) from 1958 on, and was Presiding Justice from 1969 on.
In January 1974, Governor Malcolm Wilson appointed him to the New York Court of Appeals to fill the vacancy caused by the election of Charles D. Breitel as Chief Judge. This gave him the highest rank of any black American in a state judicial system; he was the first African American to hold a seat on the Court of Appeals. In 1974, he ran on the Republican, Conservative and Liberal tickets for a full term, but was defeated by Democrat Jacob D. Fuchsberg. In 1975, he resumed his post as Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division (1st Dept.), and retired from the bench in 1977.
He died on November 9, 1990, at his home in Harlem, New York City.
Other services
Judge Stevens served as a trustee or board member for many organizations, including St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York Medical College, New York University Law Center Foundation, the Council for Religious and International Affairs, and the National Center for State Courts. He served as a Special Council of Religious and International Affairs, and the National Center for State Courts. He served as a Special Counsel to President Roosevelt's Commission on Fair Employment Practices.
Harold Stevens received numerous awards and honorary degrees of national and international dimension, including the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice award from Pope Pius XII, in recognition of outstanding Catholic service.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_A._Stevens
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
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- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Harold A. Stevens's archived record and the sources above.
1.What is the full name and date of birth of Harold A. Stevens?
- A.Harold Arnoldus Stevens, October 19, 1907correct
- B.Harold Arnoldus Stevens, October 19, 1910
- C.Harold Augustus Stevens, October 19, 1905
- D.Harold Alfred Stevens, November 9, 1907
Harold Arnoldus Stevens was born on October 19, 1907.
Source: biography header
2.In what city was Harold A. Stevens born?
- A.Boston, Massachusetts
- B.Harlem, New York
- C.Johns Island, South Carolinacorrect
- D.Columbia, South Carolina
Harold A. Stevens was born on Johns Island, South Carolina.
Source: early life and education section
3.What academic institution did Harold A. Stevens graduate from in 1930?
- A.Claflin College
- B.Boston College
- C.Benedict Collegecorrect
- D.University of South Carolina
Harold A. Stevens earned a Bachelor's Degree from Benedict College in 1930.
Source: early life and education section
4.Which university rejected Harold A. Stevens from its law school, prompting him to move to Boston?
- A.University of South Carolinacorrect
- B.Boston College
- C.Harvard University
- D.Columbia University
Harold A. Stevens headed to Boston after being rejected from the then-segregated University of South Carolina Law School.
Source: early life and education section
5.In 1936, Harold A. Stevens became the first black American to achieve what specific milestone at Boston College?
- A.Bachelor of Science in Economics
- B.Doctorate in Political Science
- C.LL.B. degree in labor lawcorrect
- D.Master of Arts in History
In 1936, Harold A. Stevens was the first black American to get an LL.B. degree in labor law from Boston College.
Source: early life and education section
6.Which organization did Harold A. Stevens serve as counsel for during the 1940s?
- A.New York State Assembly
- B.National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
- C.American Bar Association
- D.Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porterscorrect
In the 1940s, Harold A. Stevens was a counsel to the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters.
Source: early life and education section
7.What political body did Harold A. Stevens serve in from 1947 to 1950?
- A.New York Court of Appeals
- B.New York Supreme Court
- C.United States Senate
- D.New York State Assemblycorrect
Harold A. Stevens was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1947 to 1950.
Source: early life and education section
8.Who appointed Harold A. Stevens to the New York Supreme Court in 1955?
- A.President Franklin D. Roosevelt
- B.Governor W. Averell Harrimancorrect
- C.Governor Malcolm Wilson
- D.Governor Thomas Dewey
In 1955, Harold A. Stevens was appointed by Governor W. Averell Harriman to the New York Supreme Court.
Source: service as a judge section
9.Harold A. Stevens was the first African American to hold a seat on which court?
- A.New York Court of Appealscorrect
- B.United States Supreme Court
- C.New York Court of General Sessions
- D.Appellate Division (1st Dept.)
Harold A. Stevens was the first African American to hold a seat on the New York Court of Appeals.
Source: service as a judge section
10.Which candidate defeated Harold A. Stevens for a full term on the Court of Appeals in 1974?
- A.Malcolm Wilson
- B.W. Averell Harriman
- C.Charles D. Breitel
- D.Jacob D. Fuchsbergcorrect
In 1974, Harold A. Stevens ran for a full term but was defeated by Democrat Jacob D. Fuchsberg.
Source: service as a judge section
11.In what year did Harold A. Stevens retire from the bench?
- A.1974
- B.1990
- C.1977correct
- D.1975
Harold A. Stevens retired from the bench in 1977.
Source: service as a judge section
12.Where did Harold A. Stevens die on November 9, 1990?
- A.Boston, Massachusetts
- B.Harlem, New York Citycorrect
- C.Johns Island, South Carolina
- D.Columbia, South Carolina
Harold A. Stevens died on November 9, 1990, at his home in Harlem, New York City.
Source: service as a judge section
13.Harold A. Stevens served as a Special Counsel to which commission?
- A.The National Center for State Courts
- B.President Roosevelt's Commission on Fair Employment Practicescorrect
- C.New York Council for Religious and International Affairs
- D.New York Medical College Board
Harold A. Stevens served as a Special Counsel to President Roosevelt's Commission on Fair Employment Practices.
Source: other services section
14.Which award did Harold A. Stevens receive from Pope Pius XII?
- A.Order of St. Gregory
- B.Catholic Service Medal
- C.Pro Ecclesia et Pontificecorrect
- D.Knight of Malta
Harold A. Stevens received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice award from Pope Pius XII for outstanding Catholic service.
Source: other services section
15.What was the occupation of Harold A. Stevens' maternal grandfather, C.H. Johnson?
- A.Reverendcorrect
- B.Judge
- C.Assemblyman
- D.Lawyer
Harold A. Stevens lived with his maternal grandparents, the Reverend and Mrs. C.H. Johnson.
Source: early life and education section
16.When did Harold A. Stevens begin sitting on the Appellate Division (1st Dept.)?
- A.1955
- B.1958correct
- C.1969
- D.1950
Harold A. Stevens sat on the Appellate Division (1st Dept.) from 1958 on.
Source: service as a judge section
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