Page 10 - January-February-CBA-Report

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 Jack- son’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 expe- rience 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 posi- tion where a reflection of you has never been. Now, these attorneys know that there is no ceiling.
Judge Janaya Bratton Trotter, Hamilton County Municipal Court and CBA president-elect
While there are a number of pivotal moments in Black history, one partic- ularly 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 discus- sion 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 June- teenth 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.
Reginald L. Staples, Jr., Partner, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
Name a
pivotal moment in Black history
for you and how it has been meaningful to you in your career.
In 1872, Charlotte E. Ray became the first African-American female lawyer in the United States. She was the first female admitted to prac- tice 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 Jack- son’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.
Tammy Bennett,
Partner | Chief Equity + Inclusion Officer, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
The election of Black women to the bench in Hamilton County are monu- mental 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 assis- tant 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.
Judge Stacey DeGraffenreid, Hamilton County Juvenile Court
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THE REPORT | January/February 2023 | CincyBar.org