The Blog of Death

Prentice Marshall Sr.

Prentice H. Marshall Sr., a retired federal judge who fought for the rights of women and minorities, died on May 24. Cause of death was not released. He was 77.

The Oak Park, Ill., native joined the Navy right out of high school. He attended the University of Illinois College of Law on the G.I. Bill, clerked for Judge Walter C. Lindley of the U.S. Court of Appeals then joined the Chicago firm now known as Jenner & Block. There he launched the firm's pro bono program and earned a reputation as an excellent trial and appellate lawyer. In 1967, Marshall joined the faculty of his alma mater; a chair at the school was later endowed in his honor.

Despite his Democratic leanings, President Richard M. Nixon appointed Marshall to the federal bench in 1973. Wearing his trademark bowtie, he spent more than two decades as a U.S. District judge.

During the 1970s, Marshall ordered the Chicago Police Department to hire female police officers and to end discrimination against minority cops. In the 1980s, he permanently enjoined the Immigration and Naturalization Service from invading factories or homes in order to interrogate Hispanics about their citizenship status. Marshall also ordered the Stateville maximum security prison to provide medical care for its prisoners and halted the enforcement of abortion restrictions passed by the Illinois General Assembly. He retired in 1996.

Outside of the law, Marshall's passion was baseball -- particularly the Chicago Cubs. He even requested that mourners play "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at his funeral.