Damon Keith set to deliver commencement address

In addition to his already full shelf of honorary degrees, Damon Keith, United States Court of Appeals judge, will receive an honorary doctor of law degree from Oberlin at this year's commencement. Keith will also deliver the commencement address.

Keith, U.S. Court of Appeals Judge for the past 21 years, is most well-known for his opinion in United States v. Sinclair. In this decision, it was stated that former President Richard Nixon and former Attorney General George Mitchell did not have the right to tap wires without a court warrant.

Keith is also well known for Garrett v. City of Hamtramck. His argument was that under the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause, the city had to provide other housing for minorities displaced by urban renewal programs that targeted their existing neighborhoods. Keith upheld the voluntary affirmative action plan that led to a fully integrated police department in the city of Detroit.

In 1967 Keith was named to the U.S. District Court by former President Lyndon B. Johnson. Prior to serving on the Court he was chief judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Keith was selected from nominations solicited from College faculty staff and students. The Honorary Degree Committee, which consists of the General Faculty, staff and the two senior class officers, narrowed down the nominations and selected six people to receive honorary degrees and one to deliver the address.

"About 25 people were nominated. Keith is well known as an intelligent and gifted speaker," said Secretary of the College Bob Haslun.

A graduate of West Virginia State University, Keith received his law degree from Howard University in 1949.

Keith has received honorary degrees from over 30 colleges and universities. He received the NAACP's highest award, the Springarn Medal. The Springarn has also been awarded to Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood Marshall and Colin Powell.

He also received the Distinguished Public Service Award from the National Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith.

In a press release, Section Chair of the American Bar Association of Individual Rights and Responsibilities Leslie A. Harris said, "There is no better role model today for lawyers and law students seeking to work for equal justice."

Keith's' daughter Gilda graduated from Oberlin in 1982.

Honorary degree recipient Al McQueen, emeritus professor of sociology, will present Keith at commencement for his degree.

Also set to receive honorary degrees are Denyce Graves, doctor of music, Jerry Greenfield, doctor of humanities, F. Champion Ward, doctor of humanities, Francine Toss, doctor or humanities, and Albert McQueen will receive the Alumni Medal.