Paul L. Brady

Paul Lawrence Brady (born September 28, 1927)[1] is an American civil rights advocate, author and former federal administrative law judge, the first African-American to achieve this position in 1972.

He was a private practice judge, a Social Security Administration hearing examiner and a trial attorney for the Federal Power Commission.

[2][3] Brady published A Certain Blindness chronicling his ancestors history on their arrival in the United States,[4] and received many accolades from civil rights groups during his career.

[2] Brady is a great-nephew of Bass Reeves, who was among the first African Americans to receive a commission as a Deputy U.S.

Marshal west of the Mississippi River, and the second husband of Xernona Clayton, a civil rights leader.