Demetrius Newton | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Alabama House of Representatives from the 53rd district | |
| In office 1987 – September 11, 2013 | |
| Succeeded by | Alann Johnson |
| Speaker pro tempore of the Alabama House | |
| In office 1998–2010 | |
| Succeeded by | Victor Gaston |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 15, 1928 Fairfield, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | September 11, 2013 (aged 85) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Wilberforce University Boston University School of Law |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States Army |
| Branch/service | 325th Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division |
| Years of service | 1952-1954 |
| Rank | Private First Class |
Demetrius Caiphus Newton (March 15, 1928 – September 11, 2013) was an American civil rights attorney and politician. He filed lawsuits to end segregation, and represented Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and others in cases related to civil rights. He then served in the Alabama House of Representatives, representing the 53rd district, from 1986 to his death in 2013. He became the first Black speaker pro tempore in the history of the Alabama House, serving in the role from 1998 through 2010.