SCOTT R.

EALY
Attorney at Law
204 N. Banker St.
P.O. Box 6077
Effingham IL 62461-2103
Telephone: 217-821-8359
attorney@effingham.net
www.twitter.com/TheScottEaly

A PERSONAL NOTE FROM . . .

SCOTT R. EALY

Monday, June 01, 2015

HON. DICK DURBIN
711 HART SENATE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
RE:

R. Jess Brown United States Courthouse

US HR172

Dear Senator Durbin:

As a proud native Illinoisan and a 1993 graduate of Mississippi College School of Law
(MCSOL) in Jackson, MS I write today to respectfully request your aggressive advocacy in the
United States Senate for US HR172, which would designate the U.S. Courthouse on Court Street
in Jackson as the R. Jess Brown United States Courthouse. HR172 is sponsored by the Hon.
Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippis 2nd Congressional District.
During my law school years, it was my greatest privilege to learn of the accomplishments
and courage of R. Jess Brown, Medgar Evers, and so many others who served our nation
courageously and loyally during the Civil Rights Era. This on site learning included my
attendance at a ceremony naming the National Black Law Student Association (NBLSA) chapter at
Mississippi College in honor of R. Jess Brown in 1991. I audio-recorded the ceremony that night,
studied the words of the speakers, and was inspired to become an active member of MCSOLs
NBLSA chapter, as well as the Jackson branch of the NAACP.
To hear an inspiring sound-bite from this 1991 ceremony online, please visit:
http://yourlisten.com/ScottEaly/tribute-to-r-jess-brown-photo-by-firnist-alexander-jr
I learned during our law school ceremony as the New York Times had reported one year
earlier in Mr. Browns obituary (enclosed) that R. Jess Brown was one of only four black lawyers
practicing in Mississippi during the 1960s. Attorney Browns list of clients included Mack Charles
Parker, who was lynched before trial in Poplarville, MS; Sam Bailey, who sought equal access to

transportation and other public facilities all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1962; and James
Meredith, whose admission to the University of Mississippi was opposed by a legal team that
included, ironically, the late Charles Clark, whose name would be honored rather than R. Jess
Browns name under a competing measure now being brought forward by others.
http://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/03/obituaries/r-jess-brown-77-civil-rights-lawyer-in-mississippicases.html
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/05/15/miss-lawmakers-back-competing-bills-namecourthouse/27411973/
I learned much more about R. Jess Brown during a subsequent summer internship at
Central Mississippi Legal Services in Jackson. Memories and encounters with Mr. Brown were
shared often by Legal Services staff members who had come into contact with him in previous
years, and were emboldened and encouraged by him, apparently on a regular basis.
The legacy of R. Jess Brown is a proud legacy of wisdom, courage, and service. I cherish
the thought that with your help, Senator Durbin, the memory of this great man would be honored in
the naming of the United States Courthouse on Court Street in Jackson, for all to see. It is an
honor long overdue.
Thank you in advance for your kind consideration of this letter and its request.

Sincerely,

Scott R. Ealy

P.S.

By the way, there is an Illinois connection here: It is my understanding that R. Jess Brown,
a native of Oklahoma, received his bachelors of science degree in industrial arts from
Illinois State University at Bloomington - Normal.

cc:

Hon. Bennie G. Thompson