Marshall name stripped from law school — he owned slaves

CLEVELAND — Cleveland State University’s law school will now bear the name Cleveland State University College of Law.

The name change was approved unanimously Thursday by CSU’S board of trustees to eliminate references to legendary U.S. Chief Justice John Marshall from the Cleveland State University Cleveland-marshall College of Law, in light of his history as a slaveholder.

The decision takes effect immediately. The words Cleveland-marshall will be removed from the law school building, letterhead, and online site.

The new name would appear on the next diplomas to be awarded in May 2023.

Marshall is considered a giant in American jurisprudence. His 34-year tenure as chief justice of the United States is the longest in history. His 1803 ruling in Marbury v. Madison cemented the court’s role as an independent third branch of the government with the ability to override acts of Congress deemed unconstitutional.

But Marshall also was a slaveholder.

The appropriateness of having Marshall’s name on the school came under debate when the school received a petition in 2020 seeking its removal.

That prompted an exhaustive review, involving scores of people, said trustee Timothy Cosgrove, who chairs the board’s Academic Affairs and Student Success Committee. That committee on Wednesday recommended the name change to the board of trustees.

“This process was never about John Marshall’s contributions to jurisprudence and whether or not that was part of the curriculum at the law school,” Cosgrove said. “It was simply a question about does the Marshall name belong on the law school. Does it represent the values of our university and our college of law? That was the question.”

The 2020 petition cited

Marshall’s ownership of slaves, an aspect of his life that drew more focus with publication in 2018 of Paul Finkelman’s book, “Supreme Injustice: Slavery in the Nation’s Highest Court.”

Similar petitions were also sent to the University of Illinois Chicago and to Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. UIC removed Marshall’s name. The Atlanta school has not.

President Laura Bloomberg and the Ad Hoc Review and Advisory Committee that studied the request over the spring and summer had recommended the name change.

In its report, the ad hoc committee noted that use of the Marshall name at Cleveland State should reflect the values of the institution.

Marshall, it noted in its report, bought and sold slaves throughout his life. He never chose to free his slaves, unlike many of his contemporaries. And he supported attempts to repatriate freed Black people to Liberia.

“In a majority-minority city, the Marshall name does not represent the community of Cleveland,” the committee wrote in its final report. “The petition from the community and from our students to drop the name Marshall from the law school is in keeping with continuing work to acknowledge the evil of slavery, the diversity and inclusion goals outlined [by the university] and the university’s commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and Inclusion for all members of our community.”

In February, the Law School Naming Committee formed by Lee Fisher, dean of the college, finished its 18-month review.

In its report, it noted that polling found a slight majority favored keeping the Marshall name, but that the result was weighted by alumni — the largest response group — who strongly favored keeping the name.

But among current students, law school faculty and law school staff, most favored changing the name.

CASES CALLED INCLUDED:

■ Clifford Cowan Jr., 44, of 1725 Clay St., domestic violence, continued, PD appointed, no contact with Katherine Brandon, bond $5,000.

■ Jaelyn A. Crowe, 24, of 513 E. Cassilly St., assault, innocent, continued, PD appointed.

■ Tiffany Shade, 40, of Middletown, OH, bench warrant served defendant jailed, guilty, bond $20,000.

■ Daniell J. A. Taylor Sr.,

43, menacing, innocent, continued, PD appointed, theft, innocent, continued, PD appointed, OR bond, theft, innocent, continued, PD appointed, OR bond, theft, innocent, continued, PD appointed, OR bond, possession of criminal tools, innocent, continued, PD appointed, OR bond, theft, innocent, continued,

CURRENT CASES:

■ 22CV0536: Krysta Schutte-smith v. Norma Madden, Progressive Direct Insurance

Company, The General Electric Company, United Healthcare Services,

Inc., as Administrator of General Electric Company Employee Health Benefits, action for money.

■ 22CV0537: Bankunited N.A. v. Charles Borden, Clark County Treasurer, Unknown Spouse, if any, of Charles Borden A/K/A Charles Borden Jr., foreclosure.

■ All cases are up-to-date.

PROPERTY TRANSFERS:

■ Lagonda Investments LLC to Paul Ross, 385 Secretariat Drive, Springfield; $65,000.

■ Larry and Esther Wheeler to Vebul Say, 1100 Upper Valley Pike, Springfield; $140,000.

■ Cheryl Anne Shirey to Cheryl Anne and Dainel Phillips, 3139 Woonsocket St., Springfield; $71,000.

■ Elton and Kathleen Moose to Sadrac

Delva and Gerda Brize,

1542 Marinette Drive, Springfield; $152,000.

■ Mary Jane Bowshier to Christopher J. Ogden, 2543

OR bond, theft, innocent, continued, PD appointed, OR bond, theft, innocent, continued, OR bond, theft, innocent, continued, PD appointed, OR bond.

■ Dereal L. Wells, 39, of 502 Linwood Ave., violation of TPO, dismissed.

■ Joshua C. Wilt, 40, of South Vienna, OH, drive without valid license, dismissed, assured clear distance, dismissed.

■ Angela S. Brickman, 46, of 711 Cypress, obstructing official business, bench warrant ordered, falsification, bench warrant ordered.

■ Michael J. Brown Jr., 23, of 5857 Baldwin Lane, assault, dismissed.

■ Destiny P. Gearhart,

20, of New Carlisle, OH, misuse credit cards, bench warrant ordered.

■ Anthony Senter, 34, of 523 Linwood Ave, OVI, bench warrant ordered.

Casey Drive, Springfield; $210,000.

■ Seth J. Bobo to Jamie Rigel, 716 Grandview

Dr. North, Springfield; $120,000.

■ James Davis to Emily Davis, trustee, 2353

Balsam Drive, Springfield; none.

■ Maga Baby LLC to Canyon Industries, 1414 S. Yellow Springs St., Springfield; $300,000.

■ Raymond E. Jones to Charles A. and Airiyelle N. Fullen, 420 Rosewood Ave., Springfield; $75,000.

■ Pearl W. Burks to Kyaw Say, 510 Knickerbocker Ave., Springfield; $150,000.

■ Edwin R. and Dianna Cogar to Makan Group

LLC, 1405 W. Main St., Springfield; $106,000.

■ Charles Montgomery Demmy to Davah L. Germain, 1547 W. Pleasant St., Springfield; $95,000.

■ Jose Ramirez Cabrera to Lissage Exume, 1534 W. Clark St., Springfield; $40,000.

■ Janet Sue Daniels to Peggy and Anthony Michalik, 624 Amelia St., Springfield; $59,000.

■ Dorothy L. Minor to

Becky Minor Thompson, 809 S. Western Ave., Springfield; none.