| Damon Jerome Keith had a long and distinguished career as a judge and community leader. He currently sits on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He was first appointed to the bench in 1967 and is highly regarded for his wisdom in upholding the Constitution. “The Keith Decision,” for example, prohibited President Richard Nixon and Attorney General John Mitchell from engaging in warrantless wiretapping, a decision unanimously upheld by the United States Supreme Court. He has participated in numerous community and civic organizations and has been a trailblazer for civil rights, particularly those of African Americans. Recognizing his legal and Constitutional expertise, President George Bush in 1990 appointed him to the Commission on the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution.
As Oakland University implements strategic initiatives to provide an environment of learning excellence to educate a diverse body of students to become productive, contributing members of society, they honored Judge Damon Jerome Keith, by conferring upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.
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