George Carroll (judge)

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = George Carroll

| honorific-suffix =

| image = George_Carroll,_Judge,_former_mayor_of_Richmond_CA.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Judge George D. Carroll

| office = Judge of the Bay Municipal Court

| term_start = 1965

| term_end = 1985

| appointer = Pat Brown

| predecessor =

| successor =

| office1 = Mayor of Richmond, California

| predecessor1 = Gay Vargas

| successor1 = David Pierce

| term_start1 = 1964

| term_end1 = 1965

| birth_date = {{birth date|1922|01|06}}

| birth_place = Brooklyn, New York

| death_date = {{death date and age|2016|01|14|1922|01|06}}

| death_place = Richmond, California

}}

George Carroll (January 6, 1922 – January 14, 2016) was an American lawyer and civic figure, based in Contra Costa County, California.[http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_11779151?source=rss Richmond courthouse named for retired judge George Carroll], contracostatimes.com, February 24, 2009; accessed January 17, 2016. He served as the first black lawyer as well as the first African American to be elected to city council in Richmond. He later became the first black mayor of any large American city.

Early life and education

Carroll was born on January 6, 1922, in Brooklyn, New York.{{cite web|title=Richmond Courthouse renamed for Judge Carroll |url=https://georgemiller.house.gov/richmond-courthouse-renamed-judge-carroll |publisher=George Miller Website |accessdate=July 23, 2014 |archivedate=July 28, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728153225/https://georgemiller.house.gov/richmond-courthouse-renamed-judge-carroll }} Later he served in the United States Military during World War II and subsequently attended college and law school by use of the G.I. Bill. He relocated to Contra Costa County, California, in 1954.

Career

Carroll Richmond opened his own private practice after relocating to Richmond in 1954, and he became the city's first black attorney.{{cite web|url=https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/Archive/ViewFile/Item/3638|title=George Carroll, first black Richmond mayor and Contra Costa County judge, dies at 94

|website=Contra Costa Times|date=January 14, 2016|author=Katrina Cameron|access-date=February 25, 2024}}

In 1961, Carroll became the first African American elected to the city council, where he served until 1964.[http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.asp?NID=1137 Richmond's Black History Corner], city of Richmond, California website; accessdate January 17, 2016.

In 1964, Carroll became the first black mayor of Richmond; by doing so, he also was the first African American mayor of any large American city.{{cite web|url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2009/02/24/richmond-courthouse-named-for-retired-judge-george-carroll/|title=Richmond courthouse named for retired judge George Carroll|website=East Bay Times|date=August 15, 2016|access-date=February 25, 2024}} Afterwards, George Carroll became the first black judge in Contra Costa when he was appointed to the Bay Municipal Court by Governor Pat Brown in 1965.

Personal life

Carroll died in his sleep on January 14, 2016, in Richmond, California, at the age of 94.[http://richmondstandard.com/2016/01/27557/ Richmond's first black mayor George Carroll dies at 94] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118091107/http://richmondstandard.com/2016/01/27557/ |date=2016-01-18 }}, richmondstandard.com; accessed January 17, 2016.

The Richmond Courthouse and a park in the Pt. Richmond District are named in his honor.[http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.asp?nid=424 Parks and park facilities], city of Richmond website, accessdate January 17, 2016.