Adam Shakoor, America's First Muslim Judge, Dies At 74

Adam Shakoor, America’s First Muslim Judge, Dies At 74

Photo Courtesy of Wayne State University

Judge Adam Shakoor, former Detroit deputy mayor, civil rights advocate, and the legal attorney representing Rosa Parks, died at 74.

Shakoor died at St. Mary’s Hospital in Livonia on Sunday.

Shakoor was born in 1947 as Adam Caddell. He grew up in northeast Detroit’s Sojourner Truth public housing complex.

He obtained bachelor’s, master’s, and law degrees from Wayne State University and changed his name when he converted to Islam during his time at the four-year institution.

Throughout his career, he was an activist for social change significantly during the civil rights movements of the 1960s and 70s.

Gov. William Milliken granted him a judgeship in 1981 in Detroit’s 36th District Court. He won re-election and stayed until 1988, rising to the chief judge. The Michigan Department of Civil Rights and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) say he was the first Muslim judge in the United States.

After serving as deputy mayor from 1989 to 1993, he went into private practice, and one of his clients included Rosa Parks.

He told WDIV in an interview that he was honored “to have received recognition for whatever contributions I’ve made. … The struggle continues. I still have more to do as long as God gives me life. I want to serve and do what I have the capacity to do– to help others.”

Tributes have been pouring in to honor the late Shakoor.

“He was totally committed to helping people and was a great family man,” Eric Sabree, who is Wayne County Treasurer and longtime friend of Shakoor, said. “He was a person who really strived for excellence in himself and all those he associated with. I relied on his counsel and advice.”

“He was committed to service and giving back to the community that lifted him up and valued him and his contributions,” executive director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, John. E. Johnson, Jr., said.

CAIR-MI Executive Director, Dawud Walid, regarded Shakoor as a “mentor and an inspiration to Michigan Muslims and the civil rights community.”

“Judge Shakoor was not only a leader in metro Detroit for African Americans and Muslims of varying ethnicities pertaining to civil rights but was also a shining example of moral excellence,” Walid added.

Shakoor is survived by his wife and six children.

Aziah Kamari

Aziah Kamari Pless is a writer and content creator with 5+ years of experience in freelance writer, editor and PR roles. A graduate of Florida State University, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English: Editing, Writing and Media. She incorporates her interests in music, fashion, media and entertainment to create versatile and compelling content.