City of Philadelphia - File #: 250728

• File #: 250728
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 9/11/2025
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 9/11/2025
• Title: Honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Frederica Massiah-Jackson, the first African American President Judge in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the first African American woman to preside over civil trials in the City of Philadelphia.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Gilmore Richardson, Councilmember Phillips, Councilmember Gauthier, Councilmember Landau, Councilmember Lozada, Councilmember Young, Councilmember Brooks, Councilmember O'Rourke, Councilmember Driscoll, Councilmember O'Neill, Councilmember Squilla, Councilmember Bass, Councilmember Ahmad

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
9/11/2025	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED BY STANDING VOTE	Pass
9/11/2025	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced and Ordered Placed on This Week's Final Passage Calendar

Title
Honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Frederica Massiah-Jackson, the first African American President Judge in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the first African American woman to preside over civil trials in the City of Philadelphia.

Body
WHEREAS, On August 27, 2025, the City of Philadelphia lost one of its legal pioneers, the Honorable Frederica Massiah-Jackson the first African American President Judge in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She presided over civil trials in the City of Philadelphia as a fair and honest Judge whom the City and its citizens relied on time and time again; and

WHEREAS, Frederica Massiah was born on November 10, 1950, in the North Philadelphia community centered at 16th and Jefferson Streets, attending Oak Lane Country Day School and the Julia Reynolds Masterman School; and

WHEREAS, Following her graduation from the Philadelphia High School for Girls, Frederica Massiah then attended Chestnut Hill College and graduated in 1971. Following Chestnut Hill College, she earned her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1974. During her time at the University of Pennsylvania, Frederica Massiah-Jackson joined Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., where she was an active and influential member; and

WHEREAS, After obtaining her Law Degree Frederica Massiah-Jackson clerked for Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Robert N.C. Nix Jr. She then practiced Law with Blank Rome Comisky and McCauley and served as Chief Counsel of the Senate Insurance and Business Committee. In 1983, Frederica Massiah-Jackson was elected to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas where she served for 37 years; and

WHEREAS, Not only was Judge Massiah-Jackson the first African American Woman to be the President Judge in Philadelphia, but she was also the first African American President Judge in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Additionally, she was one of five women to be on the Court of Common Pleas in 1980. During her career, Judg...