The Lemmon Slave Case Traveling Exhibit

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.

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.

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

WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS
Hon. Adam Silvera, Administrative Justice, New York County Supreme Court
Hon. Dianne T. Renwick, Presiding Justice, Appellate Division, First Department and Vice-Chair, Historical Society of the New York Courts
Hon. Deborah A. Kaplan, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge, New York City
Hon. Edwina G. Richardson-Mendelson, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Justice Initiatives

FEATURED SPEAKER
Hon. Rowan D. Wilson, Chief Judge of the State of New York

PROGRAM INTRODUCTION
Hon. Jonathan Lippman, Former Chief Judge of the State of New York and President, Historical Society of the New York Courts
Marilyn Marcus, Executive 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. Rosenblatt, Retired 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.