Metromover Station Renamed To Honor County's First African-American Judge
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Miami-Dade has a new Metromover station, sort of. It's not actually a new station but a station which was renamed Wednesday to honor the county's first African-American judge.
In a ceremony Wednesday, Miami-Dade County officials including Mayor Carlos Gimenez, renamed the Arena/State Plaza Metromover station the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Station in honor of the late judge.
In 1976, Wilkie D. Ferguson became the first African-American to serve as a judge in the Dade County Circuit Court. Upon his appointment to the Third District Court of Appeal in 1980, Judge Ferguson became the first African-American to serve on that court.
"By renaming one of our Metromover stations after Judge Ferguson, we honor a remarkable public servant whose landmark rulings helped improve the quality of life for thousands of Florida residents," said Miami-Dade Transit Director Ysela Llort.
Judge Ferguson served on the Third District Court of Appeal until 1993, when former President Bill Clinton nominated him to serve as a United States District Court Judge. Judge Ferguson served as a federal judge until his passing in 2003.
The new federal courthouse in downtown Miami was also named in honor of Judge Ferguson.