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Black History Month

To celebrate Black History Month 2023, the Cincinnati Bar Association reached out to local Black attorneys to share their own perspectives on pivotal moments in Black history, both in the local legal community and beyond, and to share advice for the next generation of Black attorneys. The respondents speak of mentorship, high-visibility examples of Black legal practitioners, and the necessity of building a strong network of support in the legal community.

Throughout Black History Month, the CBA will feature a series of interviews with Black attorneys on the CBA Blog. Please keep an eye out at cincybar.org/blog for that series debut in February.


Name a pivotal moment in Black history for you and how it has been meaningful to you in your career.

Judge Janaya Bratton Trotter, Hamilton County Municipal Court and CBA president-elect

A pivotal moment in Black History for me was the appointment of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the United States Supreme Court. I was overcome with emotion watching Justice Jackson’s nomination. The perspective and life experience of a Black woman is a perspective that our legal system has lacked since its inception in the formation and institution of the most important decisions governing our lives. While Black people have vastly different life experiences, and many vastly different than that of Justice Jackson, knowing that a voice with some life experience mirroring my own, by virtue of being Black and a woman, is extremely meaningful. It is also meaningful to so many young Black female attorneys to have a reflection of themselves on the highest court in the land. It can be hard to see yourself in a position where a reflection of you has never been. Now, these attorneys know that there is no ceiling.

Tammy Bennett, Partner | Chief Equity + Inclusion Officer, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
In 1872, Charlotte E. Ray became the first African-American female lawyer in the United States. She was the first female admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia. She blazed a trail, an unimaginable trail, paving the way for Katanji Brown Jackson to become the first African-American female Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States 150 years later. As I watched Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearing, I was overcome with feelings of pride and joy overlapped by pain and anguish. But, what stuck with me was her unrelenting poise under pressure – and, her courage and unwavering commitment to carry not only her hopes and dreams, but those of an entire community of African-American women and girls. For me, Justice Brown-Jackson’s ascension to the SCOTUS renews my strength, optimism and commitment to make lasting contributions to our local legal community.
Reginald L. Staples, Jr., Partner, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
While there are a number of pivotal moments in Black history, one particularly memorable moment for me was seeing Juneteenth become a federal holiday in 2021. This moment was deeply personal to me as on the day after Juneteenth was made a federal holiday, I moderated a panel discussion at my firm with members of the local bench who reflected on what Juneteenth meant to them and shared their thoughts on what inclusion meant to the legal profession. Perhaps one of the most profound things shared during our discussion was that Juneteenth should be celebrated everyday through Independence Day as a way to find healing from an ugly moment in our nation’s history. Moderating a panel discussion about the significance of Juneteenth was reminder to me that there is more work to do to make not only the legal profession more equitable and inclusive, but also our country that we all deeply cherish.
Judge Stacey DeGraffenreid, Hamilton County Juvenile Court
 The election of Black women to the bench in Hamilton County are monumental occasions for not just me, but all residents of our great county. Starting with the election of Judge Melba Marsh in 1996 to the Court of Common Pleas. Although Judge Marsh was the first black woman elected to the bench previously, the election to Common Pleas Court, which is a county wide race, was significant. Judge Marsh and other brilliant attorneys showed me that it is possible to become a judge in my beloved hometown as a Black woman. Because of them, I had confidence that I could build a meaningful career that focuses on strengthening the community as an assistant prosecutor. For example, Judge Marsh also spent time in the Prosecutor’s office handling juvenile cases, among others. I am humbled to be able to walk behind such trailblazers.

What is your go-to piece of advice for the next generation of Black attorneys?

Judge Janaya Bratton Trotter, Hamilton County Municipal Court and CBA president-elect
 My go to piece of advice for the next generation of Black attorneys is to find a mentor and build relationships. Build relationships with those who look like and have similar life experiences as you to support your shared experience in the profession. Build relationships with those who are different from you to challenge your perspective – not necessarily to change it – but to see life from the perspective of others. Build relationships with those far more advanced in their career to help you grow personally and professionally. Build relationships with those coming up behind you to help someone else as you undoubtedly will be helped in your career by many people.

Tammy Bennett, Partner | Chief Equity + Inclusion Officer, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
 During her confirmation hearing, Justice Brown Jackson recounted an occasion when she was away at college and became homesick. She wasn’t sure if she belonged. As she was walking along the Harvard Yard, another student passed and uttered one word of encouragement to her – persevere. For the next generation of Black attorneys, resilience, i.e., the mindset to overcome challenges and remain focused, and perseverance, i.e., the act of going until the goal is accomplished, are keys to success.
Reginald L. Staples, Jr., Partner, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
 I think one bit of advice I would offer to the next generation of Black attorneys is to always reach back and help those behind you. I stand on the shoulders of older Black attorneys that helped make my path to success a bit easier than their own and it’s my obligation to help make the path of lawyers coming behind easier than my own. If the path to success for younger attorneys is just as hard as it was for Black attorneys in my generation, then we have failed. My hope is that that sentiment is shared by the next generation of Black attorneys.
Judge Stacey DeGraffenreid, Hamilton County Juvenile Court
 My advice to the future generation of Black attorneys is to take pride in what makes you unique—leverage your authenticity. We are all different and our individual education—including both formal academics and informal life experiences—will provide you with the insight needed to develop creative and impactful legal analysis. As you lean into your individuality, partner with a mentor who can expand your toolkit with wisdom and additional perspectives to round out your practice. Be the captain of your career, while enhancing your toolkit through solid mentorship.



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