It is with deep sadness that the Philadelphia Bar Association shares with its members about the passing of an esteemed member of the Philadelphia community, former President Judge Frederica Massiah-Jackson.
The Philadelphia Bar Association extends its deepest condolences on the passing of a respected member of the Philadelphia legal community. “The Honorable Frederica Massiah-Jackson's 37 years of service and dedication to justice uplifted the community,” Chancellor Katayun I. Jaffari said. “She made history as the first African American woman to preside over civil trials in Philadelphia and was the first African American president judge of any county in Pennsylvania. The Association joins the legal community in mourning this tremendous loss and offer our heartfelt sympathies to her family, friends, and all who had the privilege of working alongside President Judge Massiah-Jackson.”
The Honorable Massiah-Jackson was a great supporter of the Philadelphia Bar Association as a frequent attendee of the State Civil Litigation Section meetings. Her presence extended throughout the Association, including with the Criminal Justice Section of the Association honoring members with The Honorable Frederica Massiah-Jackson Community Justice Engagement Award which recognizes the work of individuals or organizations that have succeeded in promoting justice in and for our communities as well as individuals before, during or after entry into the criminal justice system.
Judge Massiah-Jackson served on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas from 1984 to 2021. She served as President Judge from November 2000 to January 2006. Her career primarily focused on high-stakes medical malpractice cases. Following law school, she was a law clerk for Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Robert N.C. Nix, Jr. who later became Chief Justice of that court. She joined the Philadelphia firm Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley in 1976 and stayed with the firm until her election to the bench in 1983. Judge Massiah-Jackson was also a lecturer at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania for 10 years where she taught legal studies and business law.
During her years as President Judge, the First Judicial District administered justice with a $110 million budget, 2500 employees and 130 judges. Access to Justice was the hallmark of the First Judicial District as she enhanced the public perception of judges and the organization. The President Judge Emeritus increased the pay rates for court-appointed counsel fees, signed a Mitigation Protocol for representation in death penalty cases, opened an First Judicial District Information Center, and implemented programs to promote race and gender fairness in the courtrooms.
Judge Massiah-Jackson’s contributions to our society are highlighted in the book, “They Carried Us: The Social Impact of Philadelphia’s Black Women Leaders.” In 2013, she received the prestigious Alumni Award of Merit from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. In 2011, the Philadelphia’s Mural Arts program partnered with Universal Companies to include the Judge on a mural entitled, “The Faces That Shape Us.” In 2010, Judge Massiah-Jackson received the NAACP’s Cecil B. Moore Award. In 2007, the Judge’s portrait was presented to the courts and is hung in the Ceremonial Courtroom of City Hall. In 2005, she was chosen by the PA Commission for Women as one of 50 women of color profiled in the book, “Voices.”
We were lucky to have her presence and voice in the Philadelphia Bar Association, and she will be forever missed.
