Petition for mandamus, Atha Sorrells v. A.T. Shields, Clerk

Petition for mandamus, Atha Sorrells v. A.T. Shields, Clerk

A.T. Shields, clerk of the Circuit Court of Rockbridge County, denied Atha Sorrells and Robert Painter a marriage license because of Sorrells' Indian heritage. Sorrells and Painter brought action against Shields, and Judge Holt ruled in their favor, arguing that there was not "an appreciable amount of foreign blood" because Sorrells's Indian ancestor had lived almost 130 years ago.

Rockbridge County (Va.) Atha Sorrells by her next friend William Sorrells vs A. T. Shields, Clerk of Circuit Court, 1925. Local Government Records Collection, Rockbridge County Court Records, The Library of Virginia. 12-1246-001/002/003.