ALMD Hosts Director of the U.S. Marshals Service
On Wednesday, December 8, 2021, the Alabama Middle District welcomed current Director of the United States Marshals Service Ronald Davis and Jesse Seroyer, current U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of Alabama, and their respective staffs. Also present was the Montgomery Chief of Police, Ramona Harris.
While visiting the Middle District, the Marshals were provided with a historical overview of the Frank M. Johnson Courtroom (2FMJ) by presiding Senior District Judge Myron H. Thompson. The Frank M. Johnson Courtroom is the birthplace of a myriad of Civil Rights era decisions that shaped the Modern American Civil Rights movement.
During this discussion, Judge Thompson highlighted some of those important cases that helped to make this courtroom so historic. Some of these cases include the decision to allow the Selma to Montgomery March by Judge Johnson, the trial following the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a plethora of education discrimination cases, the presence of John Lewis, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and more.
Judge Thompson also emphasized the role that the United States Marshals played during the Civil Rights Era as they diligently protected both citizens and judges to ensure that the judicial decisions were enforced.
Marshal Davis expressed the reverence that he immediately felt as he walked into the historic courtroom. Chief Judge Emily Marks was also present, and she shared similar remarks about the pleasure that it is to stand amid history. Marshal Davis also briefly discussed the historic photos of U.S. Marshals escorting Ruby Bridges and James Meredith. He acknowledged that it is because of decisions rendered in the Frank M. Johnson Courtroom and others alike, that he, an African American man, is the Director of the U.S. Marshals Service today.