Justice Delayed, Justice Served: Ely Parker Posthumously Admitted to New York State Bar

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In a historic moment, Ely Samuel Parker, a Seneca leader and Civil War hero, was posthumously admitted to the New York State Bar on Friday. The move corrects a long-standing injustice that denied Parker, a key figure in U.S. history, the opportunity to practice law due to his Native American status. Parker's admission, 130 years after his death, was the result of a years-long effort by his descendants, who saw the irony in a prominent figure in U.S. history being denied citizenship and the right to practice law. 'Today, we correct that injustice,' said Melissa Parker Leonard, a great-great-great-grandniece of Parker's. 'We acknowledge that the failure was never his, but the law itself.' Parker's achievements are numerous. He was a trusted advisor to President Ulysses S. Grant and played a crucial role in the surrender of General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox in 1865. He was also the first Native American to serve as commissioner of Indian Affairs under Grant. Additionally, Parker is the first Native American to be posthumously admitted to the bar, a distinction recognized by retired Judge John Browning, who worked on the application. Born on the Seneca Nation of Indians' Tonawanda reservation outside Buffalo in 1828, Parker was educated at a Baptist mission school and studied law at a firm in Ellicottville, New York. Despite being denied admission to the bar, Parker went on to become a civil engineer and used his legal training to help the Seneca defend their land. He partnered with attorney John Martindale to win significant victories in the New York Court of Appeals and U.S. Supreme Court. Parker's legacy extends far beyond his Civil War service. He is a testament to the power of perseverance and determination in the face of adversity. 'Today is Ely's triumph, but it is also all of ours,' said Lee Redeye, deputy counsel for the Seneca Nation of Indians. 'We stand victorious over the prejudice of the past.' The posthumous admission to the bar is a significant milestone in Parker's journey, and his family sees it as a personal triumph. 'This moment is deeply personal for our family,' said Leonard. 'It allows Ely to rest in the knowledge that he did his best, and that his best changed the course of our history.'