Wiley William Manuel (August 28, 1927–January 5, 1981)[1] was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of California from 1977 to 1981 and the first African American to serve on the high court.
Following law school, Manuel worked for 23 years in the California Attorney General's office, rising to chief assistant attorney general in the San Francisco office.[3][11] In March 1956, then-Deputy Attorney General Manuel announced that municipalities adding fluoride to public drinking water cannot be charged with practicing dentistry.[12]
On February 12, 1977, Governor Brown elevated Manuel to the Supreme Court. On March 8, 1977, he was approved by the Judicial Qualifications Commission, he was sworn in on March 24, 1977, and took his seat on April 5, 1977.[14][15][16][17] He was the first African American justice of the Supreme Court.[18][15] Also in 1977, he delivered the keynote address at the first meeting of the California Association of Black Lawyers.[19] Among his notable cases is the criminal prosecution against William and Emily Harris of the Symbionese Liberation Army on charges of kidnapping Patricia Hearst in 1974.[20] In August 1977, Manuel wrote the 6 – 1 majority opinion that the trial court abused its discretion in denying the defendants' request for state-appointed counsel of their choosing.[21] Manuel served for only four years before he died of stomach cancer.[3][9]
In honor of Manuel, there is a non-profit scholarship foundation in Northern California.[22][7] Manuel, who was known for his dedication to pro bono work, has a pro bono award named after him awarded by the State Bar of California each year.[23][24][25] The Wiley Manuel Courthouse, part of the Alameda County Superior Court, was named after him.[7]
In 1948, he married Eleanor M. Williams, and she currently resides in Oakland, California.[7] He died on January 5, 1981.[7] He was survived by his wife and their two children, Yvonne and Gary Manuel.[26]
^"Hastings Community". Hastings Alumni Publications. 81. San Francisco, CA: Hastings College of the Law Alumni Association: 23. Fall 1992. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
^"Taylor gets award". Coronado Eagle and Journal. No. 25. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 27 June 1991. p. 27. Retrieved July 31, 2017. Coronado resident Timothy Taylor of the law firm Sheppard, Mullin, Richter and Hampton was honored as a 1991 Wiley W. Manuel Pro Bono Award winner by the State Bar of California.
^"Coronadan honored with pro bono award for community service". Coronado Eagle and Journal. No. 10. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 5 March 1992. p. 26. Retrieved July 31, 2017. The State Bar of California has honored Coronado resident Timothy W. O'Brien with the 1991 Wiley W, Manuel Pro Bono Award. This award is named in recognition of retired California Supreme Court Judge Wiley W. Manuel for his important contributions in minority rights issues.
^"Coronado Attorney Recognized for Pro Bono Work". Coronado Eagle. No. 18. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 4 May 1994. p. 7. Retrieved July 31, 2017. The Wiley W. Manuel Award was created in 1989 by the State Bar of California to recognize lawyers, law students, secretaries, and paralegals in the state who provide 50 or more pro bono hours of service a year to low-income clients.
