As a United States Circuit Court Judge, the late Damon Jerome Keith (1922 - 2019) was a tireless champion for justice.
The newest permanent exhibition at The Wright, the Judge Damon J. Keith exhibition chronicles the life and legacy of one of Detroit's most tireless champions for equity and justice.
In a career spanning more than 50 years, Judge Keith decided some of the most controversial yet important civil rights cases. He upheld affirmative action in 1979, ordered Pontiac, Michigan to bus students in 1971, and in 2016 wrote an impassioned dissent which advocated for early and absentee voting. In 2002 he issued an opinion which found that the Bush Administration had violated both freedom of speech and freedom of the press in holding secret hearings, writing "Democracy dies behind closed doors."
This is just a fragment of Judge Keith's legacy. In this gallery, we invite you to not only learn about his life and prolific work, we ask that you stand with him in the continuous fight against inequality.
Through a curatorial partnership with The Wright and other key stakeholders, this innovative, uniquely interactive exhibition explores Judge Keith's childhood, family background, military service, education, legal practice, and lengthy record of service as a federal district judge.
Designed by EEI Global, Honoring the Life of Judge Damon J. Keith contains the latest technology in interactive exhibition design.
- Our Stand with Judge Keith immersive experience allows visitors to choose and take a selfie with an inspirational quote that represents Keith’s legacy.
- The Monitor Array highlights relevant social events that occurred and were influenced by Judge Keith. The array will play as a loop and visitors will have the opportunity to manually advance to the next event.
- An active and dynamic display, the interactive timeline allows visitors to touch any timeline point to learn about specific events in Keith’s life through images and other related media.
Group Tours
Reservations for guided or self-guided tours are required and should be made at least two weeks in advance of your anticipated arrival date. Parties of all sizes are welcome to book group tours, but discounted admission rates will only be available to groups of fifteen people or more.
Regular admission rates apply to parties of less than fifteen people. Parties of fifteen people or more are eligible for discounted admission rates. Please note that any other museum discounts are not applicable toward group admission prices.
- Adults, age 18-61 - $14
- Seniors, age 62 and over - $11
- Children, age 6-17 - $11
- Museum Members and children under 5 - FREE
"A deeply moving tribute to an extraordinary legacy. This gallery is both educational and inspiring." – Natalie Brooks
"The perfect addition to an already incredible exhibition. Judge Keith’s story is beautifully honored here." – Caleb Hunter
"A compelling reminder of the power of justice and integrity. Don’t miss this gallery." – Erica Wallace
30% decrease
We've cut our exhibition carbon footprint by 30% in recent years, advancing our commitment to environmental stewardship.
Exhibition Images
Experience the life of Judge Damon J. Keith.