COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Matthew Perry, a civil rights lawyer who went from sitting in the courtroom balcony because he was black to having the federal courthouse in Columbia named in his honor, has died. He was 89.
Perry died on Sunday, according to Leevy's Funeral Home, which is handling arrangements.
He first made his name in South Carolina with civil rights cases.
That included successfully representing Harvey Gantt, who became the first black student to attend classes at Clemson University.
In 1975, Perry became the first black judge in the state named to the federal bench at the U.S. Court of Military Appeals. Four years later, he became a U.S. District judge. In 1975, Perry became the first black judge in the state named to the federal bench at the U.S. Court of Military Appeals. Four years later, he became a U.S. District judge.
In the 1950s, Perry sometimes had to sit in the balcony with other blacks until his case was called.
