J. Mercer Burrell
J. Mercer Burrell (November 21, 1890 – June 15, 1969) was an American civil rights leader, lawyer, and politician.[1] He was one of the first Black state legislators in New Jersey. He was the defense attorney for the Trenton Six in 1951.
Early life[edit]
Burrell was born in Richmond, Virginia on November 21, 1890.[2] He graduated from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee.[1] He received his law degree from the New Jersey Law School, now Rutgers Law School.[1]
He served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War I.[1] During the war, he was injured in France.[1]
Career[edit]
Burrell was an attorney. He represented the founders of the Phi Delta Kappa, filing the paperwork to incorporate the education sorority.[3] He served in the New Jersey State House in 1933 as a Republican and 1935 under the Clean Government line.[4][5] He was one of the first Black assemblymen in New Jersey.[5]
From 1936 to 1937, Burrell was the special counsel for the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance.[2] He was the special title attorney for the Newark Housing Authority from 1939 to 1940.[2] In 1947, the Essex County Colored Republican Council was represented by Burrell as it sought to change the Bill of Rights.[6]
In 1951, Burrell represented the Trenton Six in a new trial, ultimately winning freedom for four of the Black men who had been convicted of rape in 1948.[7][6][2] This was a high profile case that trigged protest rallies and an appeal to the United Nations.[2] In 1953, he ran unsuccessfully to be the Republican nominee for the 11th Congressional District.[1]
He was also vice-president of the National Bar Association.[6]
Personal life[edit]
Burrell lived in New York and East Orange, New Jersey before moving to Newark, New Jersey in 1919.[1]
Burrell died at his home in Newark on June 15, 1969, at the age of 73.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g "J. Mercer Burrell Dies, Early Negro Assemblyman". The Herald-News. Passaic, New Jersey. 1969-06-18. p. 62. Retrieved 2024-01-29 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e "Yesterday in Afro-American History". Jet. 39 (9): 10. November 26, 1970 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Our History – NSPDK, Inc – Alpha Chapter".
- ^ "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Burrage to Burrowes". politicalgraveyard.com.
- ^ a b c "J. Mercer Burrell, Ex-Assemblyman". The Courier-News. Bridgewater, New Jersey. 18 June 1969. p. 6. Retrieved 23 December 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "N.J. Constitutional Convention: Volume 3 Page 88". www.njstatelib.org.
- ^ "What the Branches Are Doing". The Crisis. 60 (4): 236. April 1953 – via Google Books.
- Republican Party New Jersey state senators
- African-American state legislators in New Jersey
- 1969 deaths
- Politicians from Richmond, Virginia
- Rutgers Law School alumni
- 20th-century African-American lawyers
- 20th-century African-American politicians
- 20th-century American lawyers
- 20th-century American legislators
- 20th-century New Jersey politicians
- 1890 births
- Union University alumni
- Civil rights lawyers