The US Supreme Court ruled in the case of Norris v Alabama that prohibiting black citizens from serving on a jury was unconstitutional. Following that decision, counties throughout the South began to empanel juries with black citizens. However, it was not until November 1943 that Escambia County selected its first black juror by the name of Aaron Smiley. The selection was brought about by an injunction filed by Pensacola attorney John M. Coe alleging that barring blacks from the jury list was discrimination and therefore unconstitutional. Based on Coe’s filing Judge Ernest E. Mason ruled in September 1943 that black citizens of Escambia County would be added to the list of prospective jurors from now on.
Although unverified, he is believed to be Aaron J. Smiley Jr. born on 5-12-1909 and passed away on April 13, 1990 and buried in the Century Cemetery, Century, Florida. His father was a farmer by trade and he and his wife Irene supported nine children with the fruits of their labor.
Pensacola News Journal 11-15-1945
John M. Coe, Pensacola Attorney
Judge Ernest E. Mason
Pensacola News Journal 11-14-1944