Marvin S. Arrington Sr: Leading Atlanta political figure dies at 82

Marvin S. Arrington Sr., a retired Fulton County judge, and former Atlanta City Council president, died Wednesday (July 5, 2023) at age 82.

Born on February 10, 1941, Arrington is famously known for breaking the color barrier as one of the first two Black students admitted into Emory University Law School in 1965, along with former federal Judge Clarence Cooper.

Arrington went on have not only a long but a successful legal career, serving on the city’s Board of Alderman which was the city’s representative body before converting to City Council.

He was later appointed to the Fulton County Superior Court by then-Governor Roy Barnes in 2002.

Arrington was the subject of controversy in 2008 when he cleared his courtroom of white people (notably lawyers), to speak to those present, primarily defendants.

Later he summed up what he said as “Don’t violate the law, make something out of yourself, go to school, find a role model, somebody that will help you advance your life.” He said that “In retrospect, it was a mistake,” and that he would shortly deliver the same speech to everyone.

Arrington was voted one of Atlanta’s top 25 lawyers by Atlanta Magazine and was included by Black Enterprise Magazine in their list of America’s “Top 10 Black Law Firms”.

Source: abtc.ng