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Duane Morris Attorneys Obtain Posthumous Admittance of George Vashon to Pennsylvania Bar

Chief Diversity Officer Nolan Atkinson, Jr. and associate Leslie Carter played a major role in petitioning the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on behalf of the family of George B. Vashon, Atkinson's great-grandfather, to posthumously admit Vashon to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Vashon sought admission to practice law in Allegheny County in 1847 and 1868, but was rejected in both cases because of his race. In October 2010, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court officially admitted Vashon to the Pennsylvania bar during a ceremony at the City-County Building in Pittsburgh.

The evening before Vashon’s admittance, Duane Morris and the Allegheny County Bar Association honored Vashon and his family at a reception in Pittsburgh. Gov. Ed Rendell sent a video message from Harrisburg.

Duane Morris Chairman John Soroko and Duane Morris Chief Diversity Officer Nolan Atkinson

Paul Thornell, Nolan Thornell (Vashon’s great, great grandson), Elizabeth Atkinson and Nolan Atkinson

Articles about George Vashon

Confirming Black Lawyer's Admission to State Bar, Pa. Supreme Court Will "Right an Ancient Wrong"
By Kristin Holmes | The Philadelphia Inquirer | October 20, 2010

State Bar to Right Injustice from 1868. Black Lawyer to Gain Access Posthumously
By Joyce Gannon | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | October 18, 2010

After 163 Years, African-American Legal Scholar and Abolitionist George B. Vashon to Be Admitted to Pennsylvania Bar
Duane Morris Press Release | October 13, 2010