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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 Wilkie Ferguson
(Source: http://www.3dca.flcourts.org) Judge Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr.

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.

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