Background
Archer, Dennis Wayne was born on January 1, 1942 in Detroit, Michigan, United States. Son of Ernest James and Frances Archer.
judge lawyer politician Mayor of Detroit
Archer, Dennis Wayne was born on January 1, 1942 in Detroit, Michigan, United States. Son of Ernest James and Frances Archer.
Bachelor of Science, Western Michigan University, 1965. Juris Doctor, Detroit College Law, 1970. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Western Michigan University, 1987.
Doctor of Laws (honorary), Detroit College Law, 1988. Doctor of Laws (honorary), University Detroit, 1988. Doctor of Laws (honorary), John Marshall Law School, 1991.
Doctor of Laws (honorary), Gonzaga University, 1991. Doctor of Laws (honorary), University Michigan, 1994. Doctor in Public Service (honorary), Eastern Michigan University, 1994.
Doctor of Laws (honorary), Aquinos College, 1996. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Marygrove College, 1997. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Hamline University, 2001.
Doctor of Laws (honorary), Wayne State University, 2002. Doctor of Laws (honorary), University Baltimore, 2002. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Stetson University, 2003.
Doctor of Laws (honorary), Temple University, 2004. Doctor of Laws (honorary), University Connecticut, 2004. Doctor of Laws, School Craft College.
Doctor of Laws, New York Law School, 2008. Doctor of Laws, University New York, Albany, 2008.
A Democrat, Archer served on the Michigan Supreme Court and as mayor of Detroit. He later served as president of the American Bar Association, becoming the first black president of the organization, which, until 1943, had barred African American lawyers from membership. He taught learning-disabled children in Detroit Public Schools from 1965 to 1970.
Archer earned his Juris Doctor from the Detroit College of Law in 1970.
Archer served as a justice on the Michigan Supreme Court from 1986 to 1990. In his last year as a Michigan Supreme Court justice, he was named "most respected judge in Michigan" by Michigan Lawyers Weekly.
Archer served as mayor of Detroit from 1993 to 2001. As mayor, he worked to repair the city"s relations with the Detroit suburbs and the local business community through cooperation with suburban business leaders on their redevelopment plans for the city, reducing tensions.
Archer was a strong supporter of numerous construction projects in downtown Detroit, including two new stadiums, Ford Field for the Detroit Lions and Comerica Park for the Detroit Tigers.
Archer also became president of the National League of Cities during his last year as mayor. As mayor, Archer was never popular with loyalists of his predecessor, Coleman Young. Archer was re-elected by a large margin in 1997, but was subject to a recall campaign in his second term, launched by many of his original opponents.
He declined to run for re-election in 2001.
Upon leaving office as Mayor of Detroit in January 2002, Archer was appointed as chairman of Detroit-based law firm Dickinson Wright, and the board of directors of Compuware. He is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.
In 2004, he was appointed to an eight-year term ending December 31, 2012 on the board of trustees of the Western Michigan University by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm. He was appointed legal guardian for famous civil rights activist Rosa Parks in October 2004.
In February 2008, Archer announced that he was considering running for governor of Michigan in 2010, but ultimately decided not to enter the race the following November.
Archer serves as a co-chair of the National Transportation Policy Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center.
Board directors Legal Aid and Defenders Association, Detroit, 1980-1982, National Conference Black Mayors, 1994, CATCH, Henry Ford Health Systems. Co-chairman Metropolitan Detroit Community Coalition for Democrats, 1979-1980. Board trustees Olivet College, 1991-1993.
Active numerous local Democratic campaigns, 1970-1985. Host local public service radio programs. Co-chair platform committee Democratic Convention, 1996.
President National Conference Democratic Mayors, 1996. Member National Committee on Crime Control and Prevention, 1995. Fellow American Bar Foundation, Michigan Bar Foundation.
Member American Bar Association (house delegations 1979-1993, chairman drafting committee 1986-1988, committee on scope and correlation of work section officers liaison 1987-1990, chairman general practice section 1987-1988, chair commission on opportunities for minorities in the profession 1987-1991, section legal education and admissions to the bar, council member 1989-1995, task force on professional skills instruction 1989-1991, task force on law schools and the profession, Narrowing The Gap, 1989-1991, chairman special committee prepaid legal services 1981-1983, chairman section officers conference 1988-1990, resource development council 1988-1991, board editors American Bar Association Journal 1988-1994, board editors The Practical Litigator 1989-1994, chairman rules and calendar committee 1990-1992, state delegate 1990-1996, president 2003-2004), Association of Trial Lawyers of America, National Bar Association (president 1983-1984), American Judicature Society (board dirs 1977-1981), State Bar Michigan (president 1984-1985), Wolverine Bar Association (president 1979-1980), Detroit Bar Association (board directors 1973-1975), Michigan Trial Lawyers Association (executive board 1973-1974), International Society Barristers, Economic Club, Alpha Phi Alpha.
Married Trudy Ann DunCombe, June 17, 1967. Children: Dennis Wayne, Vincent DunCombe.