Apr 3, 2008 5:53 pm US/Central
Former Appellate Justice R. Eugene Pincham Dies
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Retired Illinois Appellate Court Justice R. Eugene Pincham in 2005.
CBS
Retired Illinois Appellate Court Justice R. Eugene Pincham has died of lung cancer at the age of 82.
As CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports, Judge Pincham was a strident critic of the criminal justice system, a human rights activist, and a lifetime member of the NAACP.
"He stood up and he spoke out and he did it in a lion's voice, and we all heard his roar," said attorney Andre Grant.
Grant is just one of dozens of Chicago attorneys and judges mentored, tutored and molded by R. Eugene Pincham, who used his brilliant mind and folksy ways to dominate the courtroom.
"In his day and time, he was the dean of criminal defense lawyers in the city of Chicago," said attorney James Montgomery.
Judge Pincham was born in Chicago on June 28, 1925, but grew up in Alabama; he experienced harsh racism and grinding poverty.
He attended LeMoyne College in Memphis and Tennessee State University and Nashville, and received a law degree from Northwestern University in 1951, according to a biography by the HistoryMakers.
Judge Pincham practiced law in state and federal courts, and was admitted to the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1965. He served as a Cook County Criminal Court judge from 1976 until 1984, and as an Illinois Appellate Court justice from 1984 until 1989.
In the courtroom, Judge Pincham had a rhetorical flair and a downhome manner that made him one of the city's best-known and most successful criminal defense attorneys.
"Some people do art with a paint brush or musical instrument," said attorney William Hooks. "His art, his instrument was his ability to work a courtroom, be it judge or jury."
He successfully defended many clients whom he felt were victims of racism on the part of police and prosecutors.
Attorneys who admired Judge Pincham's skill often packed courtrooms to witness his dramatic and folksy opening and closing arguments.
In 1989, Judge Pincham unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination for Cook County Board president, and two years later he won the nomination for mayor for the Harold Washington Party, which was organized after Mayor Washington's death. He lost to Mayor Richard M. Daley, but carried 19 of the city's 50 wards.
Later, Judge Pincham returned to legal defense work, and among several noteworthy cases, his efforts led to freedom for one of the two little boys who were wrongly accused in the 1998 sexual assault and murder of 11-year-old Ryan Harris. Judge Pincham also represented the boy in a lawsuit against the city, which ultimately led to a $6.2 million settlement in 2005. That case also directly led to the videotaping of murder confessions in Illinois.
"There's no doubt about it," Grant said. "He changed this city. He's one of the greatest trial lawyers and criminal defense lawyers I've ever seen in my life. And I don't think I'll ever see anyone better or had the command and presence that R. Eugene Pincham had."
Judge Pincham had been battling lung cancer. He died at Rush University Medical Center after a long illness.
Prominent Chicagoans offered condolences and memories of Judge Pincham on Thursday.
"I am greatly saddened and grieved by the loss of the Honorable Justice R. Eugene Pincham, a great man whom I have known and admired for almost 20 years," Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown said in a statement. "To me, he was a mentor, role model, teacher, a supporter above all supporters, an advocate, loyalist and encourager."
"Mr. Pincham should be remembered as a trailblazer," Cook County Clerk David Orr said in a statement. "I admired him -- an extraordinarily bright and tactically shrewd man -- for regularly taking on corruption and racism, even when it landed him in hot water. His death is a great loss to Chicago and Cook County."
His funeral is set for April 12 at Trinity United Church of Christ. The Rev. Jeremiah Wright will reportedly be presiding at the funeral.
CBS 2's Derrick Blakley contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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