THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY FONTANA, COSTA, ORIE, FERLO, BREWSTER, SOLOBAY AND PIPPY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Congratulating the Duquesne University School of Law on the

100th anniversary of its founding.

WHEREAS, On Monday, September 25, 1911, the Duquesne

University School of Law opened its doors, holding its first

classes in the George Building on Fourth Avenue in the City of

Pittsburgh; and

WHEREAS, The first professional school of the newly chartered

Duquesne University, the School of Law sought "to prepare young

men, especially those otherwise engaged in business, not only

for the preliminary examinations of the State Board of

Examiners, but also for entrance into other professions or for

admissions to higher courses of study"; and

WHEREAS, The Honorable Joseph M. Swearingen, Judge of the

Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, became the first Dean

of the law school; John E. Laughlin, a well-known lawyer, became

Vice-Dean and faculty members included William H. Lacey, P. A.

McDermott, A. B. Reid and J. C. Bane; and

WHEREAS, In December 1913, Oscar G. Meyer is the first law

school student to pass the State bar exam; he opens his own

office even before graduation; and

WHEREAS, In June 1914, the law faculty confers 12 bachelor of

law degrees on Francis Bernard Cohen, John Robb Clarke, Thomas

Francis Dougherty, Paul John Friday, Henry John Glem, Bernard

James McKenna, Oscar Gregory Meyer, Edward Michael Murphy,

Frederick William Ries, Jr., Henry Jacob Schmitt, Henry James

Thomas and Francis Albert Wolf; and

WHEREAS, In September 1914, the entire first class passes the

State bar exam; and

WHEREAS, There were many other important firsts in the School

of Law: in 1914, Mrs. M. Murphy becomes the first woman to

matriculate for the study of law in the university; in 1924,

Anna Louise Schultz is the first female graduate of the law

school; and in 1925, Theron B. Hamilton becomes the first

African-American graduate of the law school; and

WHEREAS, One hundred years later, Duquesne's Law School is

respected regionally and has gained increasing national notice

with its rank among the nation's top 100 by Super Lawyers and as

a "Best Value" by National Jurist; and

WHEREAS, Thousands of men and women have passed through the

doors of the Duquesne University School of Law en route to

distinguished careers, more than 7,500 graduates are practicing

in every field of law, its alumni work as corporate counsel to

Fortune 500 companies and small entrepreneurial ventures, are

directors of government agencies and public interest

organizations, serve as district attorneys and public defenders

and teach at law schools throughout the United States; and

WHEREAS, An impressive number of Duquesne University School

of Law graduates are judges on the Federal, State and local

levels, including the highest courts, intermediate appellate

courts and trial courts in more than 20 states; and

WHEREAS, Among all law schools in Pennsylvania, Duquesne has

produced a significant number of judges seated on the Superior

Court, Commonwealth Court and courts of common pleas; and

Duquesne Law alumni have also served as judges of the United

States Court of Appeals and the Federal District Courts; and

WHEREAS, The Duquesne University School of Law will hold its

Black Tie Centennial Gala on Saturday, September 24th to

celebrate its past, present and future; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate congratulate the Duquesne

University School of Law on the 100th anniversary of its

founding.