Attorneys of Color

ABA’s Equity Summit shines light on DEI issues in legal profession

The ABA is once again hosting a fully virtual conference to educate lawyers, judges, law students and other legal professionals on crucial diversity, equity and inclusion issues and facilitate robust dialogue about how to address these issues.

Oct 17, 2023 8:34 AM CDT

Tales of 3 generations of Black women intertwine to form ‘Memphis’

A Tennessee lawyer shares how her lawyerly research techniques prepared her to dig into her family’s history to develop characters in her novel focused on three generations of Black women and spanning seven decades.

Sep 27, 2023 8:40 AM CDT

ABA president announces Martin Scorsese, Dolores Huerta to join new speaker series

Beginning in October, ABA members will hear directly from Academy Award-winning director Martin Scorsese, labor rights icon Dolores Huerta and other influential thinkers and trailblazers.

Sep 26, 2023 10:17 AM CDT

Former law school dean, known for ensuring ‘people were treated equitably,’ dies after attending university event

JoAnne Epps, the acting president of Temple University and its former law school dean, died Wednesday after becoming ill at a campus memorial service. She was 72 years old.

Sep 20, 2023 12:08 PM CDT

‘I feel proud of myself that I stood up,’ law prof says after $750K bias settlement is approved

A former law professor at the University of Idaho has settled her racial and gender discrimination lawsuit against the school for $750,000 following an October 2022 mistrial in the case.

Sep 18, 2023 2:58 PM CDT

Former BigLaw partner temporarily barred from courthouse should be suspended, board says

An Illinois hearing board has recommended suspension for a former federal prosecutor and Polsinelli shareholder who was temporarily barred from the criminal courthouse in Chicago and held in criminal contempt of court four times.

Sep 12, 2023 11:25 AM CDT

Onetime SCOTUS contender sues judicial conduct commission, alleging bid to stifle criticism

A North Carolina justice who was once a U.S. Supreme Court contender is alleging that ethics regulators in her state are chilling her First Amendment right to free speech.

Aug 30, 2023 10:43 AM CDT

Black lawyer alleges he was wearing handcuffs as judge pressed him to settle or produce documents

A Black lawyer who is a former pro football player has sued a Pennsylvania judge for allegedly ordering the lawyer’s arrest and having him hauled into court in shackles, where the lawyer was presented with a stark choice.

Aug 15, 2023 3:47 PM CDT

Weekly Briefs: Hunter Biden prosecutor elevated to special counsel; Charles Ogletree dies

Hunter Biden prosecutor given special counsel status U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Friday that he has appointed the U.S. attorney investigating Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, as a special counsel. The prosecutor, David C. Weiss, is a holdover from the Trump administration. Weiss had already been…

Aug 11, 2023 1:43 PM CDT

Florida’s governor suspends another elected prosecutor, citing neglect of duty to prosecute

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order Wednesday that suspends a second elected prosecutor from office, citing actions that she took to avoid triggering mandatory minimum sentences.

Aug 10, 2023 9:20 AM CDT

Alpha Brady is the new ABA executive director

Alpha Brady is the ABA's new executive director, the association announced on Monday. Brady, who has served as the interim executive director of the ABA since March, will be the first person of color to hold the position of executive director of the association in its 145-year history.

Jul 31, 2023 9:45 AM CDT

Court narrows Black law prof’s discrimination suit against University of Michigan Law School

A federal judge in Detroit has narrowed a Black law professor’s discrimination lawsuit against the University of Michigan Law School.

Jul 14, 2023 10:10 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: Bar group that ditched drag trivia event criticized; Black law schools guide drops overall rankings

Social justice group criticizes bar drag event cancellation The nonprofit Southern Coalition for Social Justice is forwarding a letter with more than 100 signatures to a bar group that canceled a drag show trivia night, citing “political” reasons. The letter says the decision by the North Carolina Bar Association “flies…

Jun 9, 2023 3:04 PM CDT

BigLaw firm was ‘caring only about its bottom line’ when it wrongly fired pregnant associate, suit says

A former intellectual property associate at DLA Piper has filed a gender bias lawsuit alleging that DLA Piper fired her because she sought maternity leave.

Jun 7, 2023 10:10 AM CDT

These 5 firms are named best for women and diversity

Perkins Coie has been named the top law firm for women and diversity by Seramount, formerly known as Working Mother Media.

Jun 2, 2023 11:35 AM CDT