John Payton, the civil rights lawyer who defended the University of Michigan’s affirmative action policy before the U.S. Supreme Court, died on Thursday after a brief illness. He was 65.
Payton was also known for his role in leading the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. He died at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore after a brief illness, according to Lee Daniels, spokesman for the New York-based fund.
District leaders called Payton a “true champion of the people.” Payton served as the Corporation Counsel of the District of Columbia, the former name for the city’s Attorney General, from 1991 to 1994. He was also president of the District of Columbia Bar and taught at Harvard Law School, Georgetown Law Center, and Howard University.
“He dedicated his life to bringing about the change he believed was so urgently needed in this nation, and he will truly be missed,” said Council Chairman Kwame Brown.
George Valentine, head of the Office’s Civil Litigation Division, worked with Payton during his tenure in the office. Payton was a “tremendous” lawyer, Valentine said, and “a force to be reckoned with.”
“Working closely with John on major cases was the best training a budding lawyer could have asked for,” he said.
Mayor Vincent Gray noted Payton served as a teacher and mentor to many D.C. lawyers. District Attorney General Irv Nathan said Payton, despite his demanding schedule, always made himself available when he called for his wisdom and insight.
Funeral arrangements for Payton have not yet been released.
