Jonathan Jasper Wright was born in Luzerne County in 1840 and grew up in rural Susquehanna County. The young man saved money and attended college in New York and in Pittsburgh where he took an interest in the law.

Wright came back to Luzerne County to study in the law office of O. Collins in Wilkes-Barre, but was not admitted to practice law in the County due to opposition on account of his race. He successfully was admitted to the bar in Susquehanna County, becoming the first African American lawyer in Pennsylvania history.

In February 1865, Wright served as part of the State Equal Rights convention in Harrisburg in pursuit of Black equality in the Keystone State. Later in 1865, Wright moved to Beaufort, South Carolina to take part in Reconstruction efforts in the Low Country. He remained a resident of South Carolina for the remainder of his life, taking part in the state’s Reconstruction-era constitutional convention and serving as a member of the South Carolina Supreme Court.

While serving in that role, Judge Wright returned to Wilkes-Barre to give a speech to benefit the city’s Bethel AME Church. His presentation was noted in local newspapers at the time:

WILKES-BARRE — JUDGE WRIGHT’S LECTURE.

Quite a large and respectable audience gathered in Liberty Hall to listen to the colored Judge of the Supreme Court of South Carolina. His subject was ‘Wisdom,’ and the larger portion of his audience was highly pleased with his efforts.

Rev. Thos. P. Hunt was the only white man on the platform with the speaker. It is somewhat to be regretted that some of the members of the legal profession had not supported his Honor out of courtesy to one who studied law here, if not from respect to his office, but as Judge Wright was not admitted to practice in Luzerne county, perhaps none of them felt that he was exactly of ‘our church.’

The proceeds must have been satisfactory. Refreshments were served at close of the lecture.

Hon. J.J. Wright studied law with O. Collins, Esq., in Wilkes-Barre. There were some objections on the part of Thomas Jefferson’s friends [opponents of racial equality] to his admission in Luzerne, and he went to Susquehanna county, where there was less prejudice against his color.

In South Carolina his intelligence won upon the admiration of the colored people and made a good point, about which the Reconstructionists rallied and they made him Judge of their Supreme Court.

Judge Wright came here to lecture for the benefit of the A.M.E. church on invitation of Rev. Mr. Stevenson, the pastor, who is well educated, both as a physician and preacher.

Judge J.J. Wright remained in his role with the South Carolina Supreme Court until the state’s Reconstruction government was overthrown by violence and fraud during the 1876 election.

Wright became a lawyer in Charleston after leaving the bench. He died their in 1885 at the age of 45 from complications of tuberculosis.

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