Lewiston civil rights leader and prominent jurist remembered [Video]

LEWISTON — Native son Louis Scolnik, community leader, civil rights champion, prominent state jurist and jazz enthusiast has died, leaving a legacy of equal justice for the marginalized, thoughtful jurisprudence and musical excellence.

He died Oct. 10 in Massachusetts at the age of 101, according to his family.

Scolnik was born Feb. 14, 1923, in Lewiston, where he attended Bates College after graduating from Lewiston High School.

His parents were Jewish immigrants who fled Kovno, Lithuania, in 1904, to settle in Lewiston.

When Scolnik learned of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he signed up for the V-12 Navy College Training Program at Bates, which readied him to be a military officer.

In the final year of the war, he served as an officer on LCI(L) 776, an amphibious landing ship, participated in landings in the Philippines and occupation duty in China, ultimately commanding the ship.

After his service …