Remembering Judge Louis A. Bedford Jr.

Judge Louis A. Bedford Jr., known as a defender of justice, civil rights advocate, trailblazer, humanitarian, and servant was the first African American judge in Dallas County.

Bedford was born in Dallas on January 23, 1926. He was passionate about education and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1942 at 16 years old. He then went to Prairie View College and graduated in 1946 with a bachelor's degree.

His dream was to study law and pursue a law degree. However, the state of Texas refused Blacks admission to graduate schools at the time. So, Bedford went to New York to student law. He graduated and earned his law degree from Brooklyn School of Law in 1951.

Bedford returned to Dallas to practice law and opened his first practice in his own home. He and a group of African American lawyers organized and founded the Barrister's Club which was later renamed J. L. Turner Legal Association in 1956.

Judge Louis A. Bedford Jr. was married Velma Ruth Bates and had three children, Diane Bedford Webster, Louis A. Bedford III, and Angela Bedford Walker.

November 12, 2022 W. H Atwell Law Academy was renamed to Judge Louis A. Bedford Jr. Law Academy to honor and celebrate the history maker who changed the trajectory of our city.