Former Judge L. Clifford Davis, the oldest living African American attorney in Texas, received a Presidential Commendation from the State Bar of Texas on October 12, in celebration of his lifelong dedication to public service and integrity in the law.

Davis celebrated his 100th birthday on the same day he received the commendation. State Bar of Texas Immediate Past President Cindy Tisdale presented him with the honor.

In 1983, Davis was appointed district judge of Tarrant County District Criminal Court No. 2 by former Texas Gov. Mark White and served in that capacity until 1988. He then served as a visiting district judge and senior district judge until 2004. Prior to taking the bench, Davis assisted attorney Thurgood Marshall of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) on the 1954 case that became Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that ruled that state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools are unconstitutional.

In 1955, following the decision in Brown v. Board of Education, Davis helped lead the legal initiative to desegregate Texas schools by filing a pair of federal lawsuits that led to the integration of public schools in Mansfield and Fort Worth.

Davis, a native of Wilton, Arkansas, is in his 75th year as a licensed attorney in Arkansas and has been a licensed attorney in Texas for over 70 years. He is the recipient of numerous honors and recognitions throughout his career. Most recently, on April 8, 2024, he was named a Texas Legal Legend by the State Bar of Texas Litigation Section during a ceremony at Texas A&M School of Law.

 

PHOTO: Former Judge L. Clifford Davis poses with State Bar of Texas Immediate Past President Cindy Tisdale. Photo courtesy of Cindy Tisdale.