The Lemmon Slave Case Traveling Exhibit

Visitors read the Lemmon Slave Case exhibit at the Nassau County Court, 2023.

In 2021, the Historical Society of the New York Courts embarked on an exciting new project, a traveling exhibit on a seminal New York court case that represented the most unyielding statement made against slavery by any court in the United States prior to the Civil War. In the Lemmon Slave Case, the New York courts helped free eight enslaved young women and children who sailed into the New York harbor with their enslavers from Virginia. The story of this monumental moment in New York jurisprudence, including the daring rescue of the eight from a ship bound for Texas and the courageous collaboration of free Black and white abolitionists, is told on eight text panels and a video narration by James Earl Jones. The Lemmon Slave Case traveling exhibit visited 45 courthouses over a nearly two-year period, reaching 38 of the Stateʼs 62 counties.

The case reached the New York Court of Appeals in 1860, and the Judges affirmed freedom, taking a strong stance against the U.S. Supreme Courtʼs 1857 decision Dred Scott v. Sandford. However, the case continues to be lesser known. The Historical Society of the New York Courts is working to change that and made its mission to highlight the important role of New Yorkʼs legal system in society and how it works to ensure democracy. Courthouses around the State took the opportunity to educate court employees and the public, including students and seniors, on the case.

Video Narration by James Earl Jones

Featured in the Exhibit

The film deals with the history of slavery in New York State and the critical role New York courts played in freeing eight enslaved young women and children who sailed into New York harbor with their owners from the South, a ruling that was in direct conflict with the 1857 U.S. Supreme Court Dred Scott decision. This film on the New York Lemmon Slave Case and its aftermath is narrated by Mr. James Earl Jones.

On the Road: The Legacy of the Lemmon Slave Case

Traveling Exhibit Closing Ceremony


Co-Sponsored by the Supreme Court New York County-Civil Term Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee

WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS
Hon. Adam SilveraAdministrative Justice, New York County Supreme Court
Hon. Dianne T. RenwickPresiding Justice, Appellate Division, First Department and Vice-Chair, Historical Society of the New York Courts
Hon. Deborah A. KaplanDeputy Chief Administrative Judge, New York City
Hon. Edwina G. Richardson-MendelsonDeputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives

FEATURED SPEAKER
Hon. Rowan D. WilsonChief Judge of the State of New York

PROGRAM INTRODUCTION
Hon. Jonathan LippmanFormer Chief Judge of the State of New York and President, Historical Society of the New York Courts
Marilyn MarcusExecutive Director, Historical Society of the New York Courts

VIDEO PRESENTATION NARRATED BY JAMES EARL JONES
The Lemmon Case: 1852-1860 — A Prelude to the Civil War

DISCUSSION OF THE LEMMON SLAVE CASE LEGACY
Hon. Albert M. RosenblattRetired Associate Judge, New York Court of Appeals and President Emeritus & Inaugural Albert M. Rosenblatt Legal History Scholar, Historical Society of the New York Courts

Interviewed by

David L. Goodwin, Esq.Supervisory Staff Attorney, Office of Legal Affairs, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and Trustee, Historical Society of the New York Courts

⇒ View more of our podcasts and program videos about the Lemmon Slave Case on our Videos & Events page

Exhibit Photos

From Courthouses Around the State

Traveling Exhibit Schedule

2021-2023

November 1, 2021  ›  Westchester County Courthouse

November 15, 2021  ›  New Rochelle Family Court

November 29, 2021  ›  Putnam County Courthouse

December 13, 2021  ›  Dutchess Family Court

January 10, 2022  ›  Rockland County Courthouse

January 24, 2022  ›  Newburgh City Court

February 7, 2022  ›  Orange County Courthouse

June 13, 2022  ›  The NYS Judicial Institute

February 22, 2022  ›  Albany County Courthouse

March 7, 2022  ›  Rensselaer County Courthouse

March 21, 2022  ›  Ulster County Family Court

April 4, 2022  ›  Broome County Family and County Court Building

April 18, 2022  ›  Madison County Courthouse

May 2, 2022  ›  Cortland County Courthouse

May 16, 2022  ›  Tompkins County Courthouse

May 31, 2022  ›  Yates County Courthouse

June 27, 2022  ›  Monroe County Hall of Justice

July 11, 2022  ›  Orleans County Courthouse

July 25, 2022  ›  Genesee County Courts Facility

August 8, 2022  ›  Wyoming County Courthouse

August 22, 2022  ›  Allegany County Courthouse

September 6, 2022  ›  Chautauqua County Courthouse

September 12, 2022  ›  Robert H. Jackson Center

September 19, 2022  ›  Cattaraugus County Courthouse – Family Court

October 3, 2022  ›  Erie County Courthouse

October 17, 2022  ›  Niagara County Courthouse

October 31, 2022  ›  Tormey Criminal Courts Building

November 14, 2022  ›  Oneida County Courthouse

November 28, 2022  ›  Herkimer County Office and Court Facility

December 12, 2022  ›  Lewis County Courthouse

January 3, 2023  ›  Jefferson County Court Complex

January 17, 2023  ›  Jefferson County Supreme Court

January 30, 2023  ›  St. Lawrence County Courthouse

February 14, 2023  ›  Clinton County Government Center

February 27, 2023  ›  Essex County Courthouse

March 13, 2023  ›  Warren County Courthouse

March 27, 2023  ›  Nassau County Supreme Court

April 10, 2023  ›  Nassau County Court/Nassau Surrogate’s Court

April 24, 2023  ›  John P. Cohalan, Jr. Court Complex

May 8, 2023  ›  Arthur M. Cromarty Court Complex

May 22, 2023  ›  Hon. Alan D. Oshrin Supreme Court Building

June 5, 2023  ›  Queens Supreme Courthouse

June 20, 2023  ›  Bronx County Courthouse

July 3    Kings County Supreme Civil Term Courthouse
July 10    Kings County Supreme Criminal Term Courthouse

July 17, 2023  ›  Staten Island Courthouse

July 31, 2023  ›  New York County Courthouse

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