DeKalb Lawyers Association Scholarship Breakfast

KEYNOTE SPEAKER L. Chris Stewart, Esq.

PRESIDENT Erica Wilson, Esq.

MISTRESS OF CEREMONY Judge Penny Brown Reynolds, Ph. D.

S AT U R D AY, M AY 22, 2021 | 10: 00A M PORTER SANFORD III PERFORMING ARTS & COMMUNITY CENTER 3181 RAINBOW DRIVE | DECATUR, GEORGIA 30034

Debra DeBerry

Clerk of Superior Court

DeKalb County

of the

DeKalb Lawyers Association

2021

May 22, 2021 Dear Family, Friends, and Colleagues, On behalf of the members of the DeKalb Lawyers Association (DLA), our Founders, Past Presidents, Board and Membership, welcome to our annual scholarship breakfast.

This past year has certainly been challenging. There have been many professional and personal obstacles that we have all had to overcome. Last year, as a result of the pandemic, our annual scholarship event was held virtually.

This year, we are excited to resume our tradition of gathering and fellowshipping in-person. We have taken great effort to ensure the safety of our members as well as the community by hosting the event outside and in accordance with the guidance provided by the Center for Disease Control.

To the scholarship recipients, I salute you. Law school is hard enough without compounding issues such as virtual learning and taking the bar during a pandemic. You have already demonstrated that you have the tenacity to be a dynamic disrupter and an agent of change. In the words of Napoleon Hill, “Do no wait; the time will never be just right. Start where you stand, and work whatever tools you have at your command and better tools will be found as you go along.” DLA is here to support to you not only as a law student but as a future lawyer. It is our sincere hope that once you pass the bar as a rite of passage that you will honor your commitment to the legal community and continue to fight the good fight.

To the donors, sponsors, and contributors, we thank you for your continued support. Your commitment to this organization remains stronger than ever. Without your support, this event would not be possible. It will forever be written in the scrolls that this organization honored our commitment to serve our legal community and minority law students throughout the state of Georgia.

In sum, I am honored to serve as the 36th President of this historic organization. Although we may have all experienced some setbacks, the unwavering support and contributions of our membership have been instrumental in us being able to host this event. I am proud to be a servant leader of this prestigious organization. Thank you all for your continued support. Blessings to you all and be well!

Warm Regards,

Erica Wilson Erica Wilson, Esq. President

CONGRESSMAN HANK JOHNSON Georgia’s Fourth District May 22, 2021 Dear Friends and Colleagues: Greetings from the 117th Congress!

On behalf of the 4th Congressional District of Georgia, it is an honor to welcome you to the DeKalb Lawyers Association 2021 Donald L. Hollowell Annual Scholarship Program.

Empowering our community since its founding, the DeKalb Lawyers Association has worked with community leaders, business owners and educators to make a difference in the lives of students in the study of law. DeKalb County is home of many prominent African-American attorneys and judges whose acts of service throughout the years are making a difference in the judicial system.

The work of the DeKalb Lawyers Association is a point of pride for our county. Their leadership, service and scholarships are making a difference in the lives of thousands of residents. The DeKalb Lawyers Association is ensuring that justice is afforded to all and that young legal scholars are able to continue in their legal studies.

Since its founding, the DeKalb Lawyers Association has been a cornerstone of justice and support, providing a professional home for attorneys and judges throughout the county. Since its inception, this organization has served as an invaluable resource for the legal profession by upholding the honor and integrity of our legal community. I am truly honored to have this organization and its members in my district.

Congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients. Thank you DeKalb Lawyers Association for your leadership, servitude, scholarships and unwavering dedication. Wishing the best to all for an outstanding, inspiring and uplifting program.

With best regards, I remain Very truly yours,

Henry “Hank” Johnson, Jr. Member of Congress

OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY

SHERRY BOSTON DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit DeKalb County Courthouse 556 North McDonough Street, Suite 700 Decatur, Georgia 30030-3356

Telephone 404.371.2561 www.DeKalbDA.org

May 22, 2021

Dear DLA Members and Distinguished Guests: It is a pleasure to extend greetings on behalf of the Office of the DeKalb County District Attorney in celebration of the DeKalb Lawyers Association’s (DLA) Annual Scholarship Breakfast.

I join you in celebrating the achievements of the young legal scholars who are privileged to receive the “Donald L. Hollowell Legacy Award,” in honor of this civil rights trailblazer and his many years of service. This award encompasses the essence of DLA’s mission and work. Through its leadership and dedication to advance just causes, DLA has become an important voice and an invaluable resource for the legal community.

May the DeKalb Lawyers Association continue to impact our community in a positive manner, and may we all be inspired by the tradition of the Annual Scholarship Breakfast – that those once helped, would reach back in service and assistance to others.

Congratulations to the 2021 scholarship recipients and best wishes for a successful event.

Sincerely, Sherry Boston District Attorney Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit

WILLIAM K. BODDIE, JR. REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 62 POST OFFICE BOX 90787 EAST POINT, GEORGIA 30364 EMAIL: william.boddie@house.ga.gov

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COVERDELL LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING ROOM 607 ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30334 404-656-0287 404-463-5081 (FAX)

STANDING COMMITTEES

BUDGET & FISCAL AFFAIRS OVERSIGHT JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ACCESS TO THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM

May 18, 2021 Ms. Erica Wilson, Esq. President DeKalb Lawyers Association (DLA) P.O. Box 2403 Decatur, Georgia 30031 Dear DLA Members and Distinguished Guests: It is an honor and a privilege to join in the celebration of the DeKalb Lawyers Association’s (DLA) Annual Scholarship Breakfast. Since its founding, the DeKalb Lawyers Association has worked with community leaders, business owners and educators to make a difference in the lives of students in the study of law. This hard work and dedication has paved the way for prominent African American attorneys and judges whose acts of service have greatly impacted the judicial system.

I join you in celebrating the achievements of the young legal scholars who are privileged to receive the “Donald L. Hollowell Legacy Award,” in honor of this civil rights trailblazer and his many years of service. This award encompasses the essence of DLA’s mission and work. Through its leadership and dedication to advance just causes, DLA has become an important voice and an invaluable resource for the legal community.

May the DeKalb Lawyers Association continue to impact the community in a positive manner, and may we all be inspired by the tradition of the Annual Scholarship Breakfast – that those once helped, would reach back in service and be of assistance to others. Congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients.

Thank you DeKalb Lawyers Association for your leadership, servitude, scholarships and unwavering dedication. Wishing the best to all for an outstanding, inspiring and uplifting program.

Sincerely,

Representative William K. Boddie, Jr., Esq. Georgia House District 62

DEKALB LAWYERS ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY AND EDUCATION FUND, (DLACEF) INC. A 501(c)(3) Organization Tax ID: 26-3422672

P.O. Box 722 Decatur, Georgia 30031 May 18, 2021 Erica Wilson, Esq., President DeKalb Lawyers Association P.O. Box 2403 Decatur, Georgia 30031 Dear Attorney Wilson: On behalf of the Board of Directors of the DeKalb Lawyers Association Community and Education Fund (DLACEF), we commend DLA on its Annual Scholarship Breakfast and extend sincere congratulations to the 2021 scholarship recipients!

Much has changed in our world and in each of our lives since we were last able to gather in person. In spite of the many challenges posed by the coivd-19 global pandemic, The DeKalb Lawyers Association continues to thrive and its membership continues to strive in pursuit of the organization’s mission: …to advance the science of jurisprudence; to promote the administration of justice; to uphold the honor of the profession of law...

May today’s event humble us and refocus us as we support the academic and professional pursuits of the scholarship recipients. May these words remind us that our efforts make a difference each day: H u m a n p r o g r e s s i s n e i t h e r a u t o m a t i c n o r

inevitable…Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Board of DLACEF stands ready to partner with DLA, in this and future endeavors, in furtherance of its mission.

Respectfully submitted,

gxÅ|~t jA `âÜÜç Temika W. Murry, President DLACEF DeKalb Lawyers Association Community & Education Fund

THE HONORABLE PENNY BROWN REYNOLDS, PH.D. The Honorable Judge Penny Brown Reynolds is a nationally respected leader, bold visionary and highly dedicated public servant, author, educator, former jurist, public policy expert, public theologian, and ordained pastor. As the first African American in Georgia’s history to serve as the Governor’s Executive Counsel, and the first African American to serve as the Lt Governor’s Chief of Staff and Executive Counsel in the Georgia Senate, Dr. Brown Reynolds has served in all three branches of state government. Her 27 year distinguished career in law has included serving for nearly a decade as a trial court Judge in Fulton County State Court, being appointed as one of the youngest judges in the state, and serving as a Georgia State Assistant Attorney General, an Assistant District Attorney and a judicial clerk for the Georgia Court of Appeals.

In 2019, Dr. Brown Reynolds received a dual appointment with the University System of Georgia to develop student initiatives and to serve as an adjunct faculty member at Georgia State University, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, where she currently teaches Criminal Law, Race and the Criminal Justice System and Criminal Procedure. She recently graduated first in her class with a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice and is one of the nation’s preeminent experts and scholars in criminal justice, social justice, law enforcement and the courts.

She received her Bachelor of Science degree, Cum Laude, from Georgia State University, after only three years of study, graduating in the top 5% of her class and received her Juris Doctor degree from Georgia State University College of Law. She was awarded the Georgia State University Outstanding Student Service Award, the University’s highest award. She graduated first in her class, with highest honors and a perfect 4.0 GPA from the Interdenominational Theological Center (I.T.C.), Atlanta, Georgia, earning a Master’s degree, receiving the James H. Costen Award for Excellence as an Emerging Leader.

She has completed studies in Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School. She was recently inducted into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi for outstanding doctoral academic performance at Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and was awarded the 2019 Chancellor’s Academic Award for academic excellence.

She is a registered mediator and arbitrator with the State of Georgia’s Office of Dispute Resolution and is the founding Chair of the Judicial Section of the Gate City Bar Association. She has been inducted into the Gate City Bar Association’s Hall of Fame for her distinguished legal career. She has served as President Emeritus of the Georgia Chapter of the International Women’s Forum and currently serves on the President’s Council. As a Life Member of the NAACP, Judge Brown Reynolds was the first jurist in history to serve on the Atlanta Chapter NAACP’s Board of Directors. She serves on the Board of Directors of the APEX Museum and SCLC Women. She is a Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and serves as the Scholar-in-Residence at the APEX Museum.

She has authored several books, Women and the Law: A Guide to Women’s Legal Rights in Georgia, co-editor, 7 Steps to Peace of Mind, Real Talk for Real Sisters: Words of Wisdom and Truth for Today’s Women & Girls, a novel, My Mother Told Me and is an Emmy Award nominated Executive Producer and former host of the internationally syndicated daytime television court series, Family Court with Judge Penny. Ebony, Jet and Essence magazines and countless national newspapers and outlets recognized her for her accomplishments. Judge Brown Reynolds is President and CEO of Divine Destiny Enterprises, Inc. and is the founder of a The JP Foundation, Inc. 501(c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening families, women, youth and children and providing a voice for the poor.

She and her husband Reverend Edward S. Reynolds are the parents of two grown sons, Michael and Fela and a daughter-in-law, Faren and two granddaughters, Pelly Marie and Kenna Makeda. She serves as Associate Pastor at Midway Missionary Baptist Church, College Park, Georgia.

L. CHRIS STEWART, ESQ. L. Chris Stewart is the Managing Partner of Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys, a serious injury and wrongful death law firm. Chris handles a variety of cases including wrongful death, civil rights, premises liability, mass torts and sexual assaults. Chris has won numerous record setting jury verdicts and made U.S history when he won the first billion dollar jury verdict for a rape victim. Chris is also recognized worldwide as one of the top civil rights lawyers of his generation. He has represented some of the most famous civil rights cases of this century that were captured on video including Walter Scott, who was shot in the back on video by a police officer. The case settled for $6.5 million dollars the highest in South Carolina history, and the officer received a twenty year prison sentence. Chris also represented Alton Sterling who was held down and killed on video by police in Baton Rouge. Other high-profile cases include Gregory Towns of Georgia, which led to a record settlement and two prison sentences for the officers involved; Chase Sherman of Florida who was killed on video which led to a record settlement, and Deaundre Phillips who was shot on video by police which is still in Court. Attorney Stewart demands not just a monetary award for his clients, but also policing reform to prevent future abuse. Stewart also represents 4 of the most famous cases of 2020 including Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, and Taniyah Pilgrim (student who was tased during a peaceful protest in Atlanta).

Attorney Stewart is one of the most decorated African-American lawyers in the country having received the Julia Humbles’ Civil Rights Award, the Wiley Branton Award for Leadership, the Outstanding Citizen Award for the State of Georgia, the Georgia Senate Outstanding Public Service Proclamation, the Pinnacle Leadership Award, the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Chairman’s Award, the Esquire Award, the R.E. Thomas Civil Rights Award, the first and only African-American voted Attorney of the Year for the State of Georgia.

Chris has been featured in international media including CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, The New York Times, Fox News, Good Morning America, The Today Show, Forbes and is a contributor on various media outlets. He travels frequently speaking at a variety of events and schools as the key note speaker. Born and raised in southwest Atlanta, Chris is extremely active in the Atlanta community and is also a board member of the historic Southern Center for Human Rights. He is a double HBCU alumni, graduating from Xavier University (LA) with honors in English, Tulane University with a Master’s of Science in Public Health, and Howard University School of Law. Having overcome reading issues as a youth, Chris embodies his favorite motto “Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.”

Contact Chris at 404-LAW-FIRM

www.smsttrial.com

cstewart@smstrial.com

ERICA WILSON President

Attorney Wilson is the owner and managing partner of The Law Office of Erica Wilson, LLC., a full service -boutique law firm serving the metro Atlanta and surrounding areas. Attorney Wilson is an experienced legal professional with over 15 years of legal experience with considerable expertise in criminal law, education law and domestic relations. As a former special education teacher, she continues to advocate for students with special needs and provide support for their families. A highly decorated attorney, she has been recognized by several organizations for legal contributions. In 2019, she was recognized as Georgia’s Most Powerful and Influential Attorney by Women Looking Ahead Magazine. In 2018, she received recognition as The Walker’s Legacy Foundation Power 40 Award Honoree. She has also been featured in multiple issues of Who’s Who in Black Atlanta.

Attorney Wilson earned her Bachelor of Arts in political science with a minor in communication from the University of South Carolina Aiken where she was a David A. Norton Memorial scholar and was inducted in Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society and the Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society. She later matriculated at the Charlotte School of Law where she earned her juris doctorate as a pro-bono honor’s graduate. In 2020, Attorney Wilson completed the Yale University Executive School of Management Women’s Leadership Program.

Attorney Wilson is admitted to practice law in the state of Georgia before all courts. She is also a member of the Georgia Bar Association where she serves on the State and Local Bar Committee, the National Bar Association (NBA) where she serves on the COVID Task Force as well as the NBA’s Crump Law Camp Committee. She serves a Director for the foundation for the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA), she chairs the Board Retreat Committee as is also on the Judicial Nominating Committee for GABWA proper. She is also an active member of The Gate City Bar. Despite all of her titles and accolades, her daughter Pelly-Marie is what makes her most proud.

NICOLE THOMAS President-Elect

Nicole M. Thomas, a native of Decatur, Georgia, is the Founder of N. Thomas Law, LLC in Atlanta, Georgia. Her principal areas of practice include Personal Injury and Traffic Defense. Ms. Thomas received her Juris Doctor from Florida Coastal School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and minor in Communications from Valdosta State University. Ms. Thomas is admitted to practice throughout the State of Georgia and in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

SIMONE HYLTON Secretary

Simone N. Hylton is a Senior Assistant District Attorney with the DeKalb County District Attorney’s office under the leadership of District Attorney Sherry Boston, where she prosecutes Domestic Violence and Adult Sexual Assault cases. Ms. Hylton received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Legal Communications from Howard University in 2004. She received her Juris Doctorate from North Carolina Central University School of Law in 2008. Ms. Hylton is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and serves her sorority through the Atlanta Suburban Alumnae Chapter. Ms. Hylton is a member of Cascade United Methodist Church in Southwest Atlanta, Georgia.

TIFFINEY HODGE Treasurer

Tiffiney Hodge is a native of Georgia born in Atlanta and raised in Decatur. She graduated from Tucker High School and attended the University of West Georgia where she majored in Political Science and Prelaw. After working several years as an adjuster in the insurance industry for big name insurance companies, Tiffiney enrolled in Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. While there, she was a member of BLSA and studied law abroad in Cape Town, South Africa through Howard University.

Tiffiney is an Associate Attorney at the Davis Bozeman Law Firm in Decatur, Georgia where she works daily fighting for justice.

33RD ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP BREAKFAST Mistress of Ceremony Judge Penny Brown Reynolds, Ph. D.

Welcome

Nicole Thomas President Elect

Acknowledgements

Mereda Davis Johnson

President’s Address

Erica Wilson

Judicial Chair Address

Chief Judge Asha Jackson

Invocation

Mr. Eric Hubbard Breakfast Served

Intro of Speaker

Judge Penny Brown Reynolds, Ph. D.

Keynote Address

L. Chris Stewart 2020 Legal Warrior Award Recipient

Special Presentation Scholarship Presentations Appeal

Legislative Update Benediction

Miguel Dominquez Genet Hopewell Erica Wilson Mawuli Davis Latrecia New 2020 Donald Lee Hollowell Scholarship Recipient Chair-Elect, Student Section Representative William K. Boddie, Jr. Georgia House District 62 Mr. Eric Hubbard

2020- 2022 EXECUTIVE BOARD President

Erica Wilson

President-Elect

Nicole Thomas

Treasurer

Tiffiney Hodge

Secretary

Simone Hylton

Member at Large Community Service Chair

Jill Pope

Member at Large (CLE)

Ken Lanier

Member at Large

Miguel Dominquez E. Duane Jones J. Nichole Tucker Lashanda Lennon Lamia Saxby Joyce Neal

Member at Large (Judicial)

Shondeana C. Morris

Scholarship Breakfast Co-Chairs Executive Director Immediate Past President

Genet M. Hopewell Rachel St. Fluer Karren Manuel

Charles Simmons

OUR MISSION The purpose for which the corporation is formed and the business and the objects to be carried on and promoted by it, are as follows:

◊ To uphold and defend the constitution of the United States and of Georgia and

maintain representative government; ◊ to advance the science of jurisprudence; ◊ To promote the administration of justice; ◊ To uphold the honor of the profession of law; ◊ To apply its knowledge and experience in the field of law to the promotion of the

public good; ◊ To encourage cordial intercourse among the members of the corporation; ◊ To correlate and promote such activities of the bar organizations in DeKalb County as

are within these objects in the interest of the legal profession and of the public; and ◊ Engage in any lawful activities related thereto.

PAST PRESIDENTS Judge Michael Hancock Robert Burroughs Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson Williams Jenkins Judge Gregory A. Adams Samuel Matchett Denise Majette Judge Bobby Simmons Judge Phillip Jackson Regina Smith Jenkins Judge Sonya Bivins Herbert Adams Imogene Walker Gwen Keyes Fleming Congressman Hank Johnson Genet McIntosh Hopewell Sheriff Jeffrey L. Mann Dawn Belisle Skinner R. Joy Walker Terry G. Phillips Mayor Deborah A. Jackson Dwight L. Thomas Robert James Judge LaTisha Dear-Jackson Judge Vincent Crawford Melanie Fenwick Thompson Judge Temika Williams Murry Jennifer Watts Andrea Dionne McGhee Judge Brian Ross Mawuli Mel Davis Miguel A. Dominguez LaTasha Barnes Tracee Benzo Charles Simmons

THE JUDICIAL SECTION FOUNDING OFFICERS CHIEF JUDGE ASHA JACKSON Judicial Chair

The Honorable Asha F. Jackson is the Chief Judge of the Superior Court in DeKalb County, Georgia and the 4th District Administrative Judge in the State of Georgia.

She was appointed to the bench in 2012 and twice elected in uncontested races in DeKalb County. Judge Jackson has the distinct honor of having clerked for her predecessor on the bench, Judge Michael Hancock just after graduating from law school. Prior to becoming a Judge, Judge Jackson was a partner practicing commercial litigation out of the Atlanta office of Barnes and Thornburg, LLP and prior to this, she was a partner practicing tort litigation and professional negligence out of the Atlanta office of Carlock, Copeland, and Stair, LLP. While practicing, Judge Jackson tried numerous cases to verdict including mass tort, personal injury, product liability, and professional negligence cases on behalf of corporate and individual defendants. Her more notable cases include the representation of NFL football great Ray Lewis in a civil suit arising out of two murders after the Atlanta Super bowl and the representation of a funeral home sued after the owner of a North Georgia crematory failed to cremate hundreds of bodies.

In her current position, Judge Jackson presides over more than 1000 complex civil, felony criminal, and domestic cases assigned to her division. She is very active in judicial leadership serving on numerous committees of The Statewide Judicial Council, The Council of Superior Court Judges and The Statewide Judicial Taskforce. Judge Jackson was appointed by the President of the State bar to serve on the newly formed committee of the Georgia Business Court.

Because of her passionate commitment to the community and her belief in young people, Judge Jackson created Project Pinnacle, a one-year mandatory in-court experience for non-violent offenders under the age of 25. The goal of Project Pinnacle is to discourage young people from committing further offenses by providing them with life skills training, legal rights, and responsibilities education, and career development opportunities. Project Pinnacle is a coed program and Judge Jackson is dedicated to restoring young people to a respectful position in the community.

Judge Jackson is the founding and presiding Judge of the felony mental health court in DeKalb County. In this role, she is responsible for working with severe and persistently mentally ill defendants with a focus on health management, accountability in behavior, and therapy. Participants are referred from all divisions in the DeKalb Superior Court. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the Statewide Council of Accountability Court Judges as the Mental Health Court representative.

Judge Jackson is very active in the legal community. She has held various leadership positions in the Atlanta Bar Association, the Gate City Bar Association, and the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys. Judge Jackson was inducted into the Litigation Counsel of America, an invitation-only Trial Order for the top 1% of litigators in the country and she has been consistently recognized by her peers for excellence in litigation, professionalism, and service including being named to the Georgia Trend Magazine Top Attorney’s List, the Georgia Rising Stars List, The Atlanta Daily Report Lawyer on the Rise and the NBA Trailblazer Under 40 just to name a few. In the community, Judge Jackson volunteers with a number of groups and organizations including her service as a Board Member of the State Commission on Family Violence, The Atlanta Area Council of Girl Scouts where she serves annually as the Judge for Law Merit Badge Day, The Atlanta Area Council of Boy Scouts where she teaches the Law Merit Badge and served as a fundraising captain, and The National Advisory Board of Forever Family; a youth mentoring organization committed to servicing children of incarcerated parents.

JUDGE SHONDEANA MORRIS

JUDGE FATIMA EL-AMIN

JUDGE KIMBERLY ALEXANDER

JUDGE MIKE JACOBS

JUDGE VINCENT CRAWFORD

JUDGE KIMBERLY ANDERSON

Vice-Chair

Secretary

Pathway to Attorney Chair

Judicial Chair-Elect

Treasurer

Pathway to Clerkship Chair

JUDGE STACEY HYDRICK Pathway to Bench Chair

JUDGE GREGORY A. ADAMS Pathway to Bench Chair

JUDGE BEDELIA HARGROVE Community & Social Action Chair

Judge Gregory A. Adams congratulates the previous recipients of the Carl Anthony Cunningham Book Scholarship

2005 Marcus Sellers – Mercer University School of Law 2006 Tameka McCoy 2007 Tracee Benzo – John Marshall Law School 2008 Tamica Norton – Howard University School of Law 2009 Tiffany Mack – North Carolina Central University School of Law 2010 Rhonda Sadler – Mercer University School of Law 2011 Jabari A. Jones – University of the District of Columbia Law School 2012 Khalid Robinson – John Marshall Law School 2013 Faith Hudson – Mercer University School of Law 2014 Nigel Phiri – Mercer University School of Law 2015 Joseph Collins – Georgia State University School of Law 2016 Morgan M. Tapp – Emory University School of Law 2017 Chelsea Wilkerson – John Marshall Law School 2018 Racquel McGee – Georgia State University School of Law 2019 Taylor Randleman – Emory University School of Law 2020 Anre Washington – University of Georgia School of Law 2021 Simran Modi – Emory University School of Law

Judge Gregory A. Adams DeKalb County Superior Court

Committee to Re-Elect Gregory A. Adams - P.O. Box 2432, Tucker, Georgia 30085

DONALD LEE HOWELL As one of a handful of black lawyers practicing civil rights law in the 1950s and 1960s, Donald Hollowell was instrumental in the movement to desegregate public institutions throughout Georgia. During his long career Hollowell provided counsel to student activists during the Atlanta sit-ins, defended Martin Luther King Jr. and other demonstrators during the Albany Movement, and successfully litigated the landmark case integrating the University of Georgia (UGA). In 1966 he became the first African American regional director of a major federal agency when U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson appointed him to oversee the southeastern regional office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

In 1938 Hollowell enrolled at Lane College, an all-black school in Jackson, Tennessee, where he excelled in the classroom and on the athletic field as a three-sport athlete. Hollowell first attracted statewide attention in 1956 as lead counsel in a lawsuit filed by Horace T. Ward, a black applicant denied admission to the UGA Law School. Although Ward’s case was ultimately dismissed, Hollowell earned a decisive legal victory against state-sanctioned segregation in higher education in 1959, when he successfully represented three applicants denied admission to the Georgia State College of Business Administration (later Georgia State University). In that case a federal district court judge ruled the school’s admission policies to be unconstitutional, paving the way for a more contentious legal showdown.

For his numerous contributions to the cause of civil rights, UGA awarded Hollowell an honorary Doctor of Laws in 2002, and both UGA and Emory University have named professorships in Hollowell’s honor.

Over the course of his career, he mentored a number of younger attorneys and civil rights activists, including Ward, Jordan, Marvin Arrington, and Lonnie King. Jordan later called Hollowell “a friend, mentor, boss, idol, and role model.”

Hollowell died in Atlanta of heart failure on December 27, 2004

Caambridge Horton graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia in May of 2015 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Family and Consumer Sciences. During her time at the University of Georgia, Caambridge participated in various organizations such as Student Government Association and Abeneefoo Kuo Honor Society. Caambridge was also initiated into the esteemed Zeta Psi chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

After graduating with honors from the University of Georgia, Caambridge went on to attend Georgia State University, where she earned her Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. Caambridge had the highest grade point average of her graduating class with a 3.74/4.00.

Academically, Caambridge has received various awards for academic achievement such as the HOPE Scholarship, Dean’s List, the Graduate Academic Achievement Award and the Writing Across the Curriculum Pedagogy Badge from Georgia State University for achievement and excellence in teaching and learning, a CALI Award for Legal Research, and the HeLP Legal Services Clinic Award for demonstrated excellence in legal analysis, writing, advocacy, and professionalism in the legal services.

While in law school, Caambridge was a member of the Georgia State University College of Law Moot Court Team, Senior Editor for the Southern Regional Black Law Students Association Journal, a Homer F. Drake Bankruptcy Inn of Court, Pupil, Treasurer of the Sports and Entertainment Law School Society, a Graduate Research Assistant for the Center for Access to Justice, and served as a Litigation Associate in Georgia State University College of Law’s Advocacy Department. Regarding her legal experience, over the summer of 2019, Caambridge worked as a Corporate Legal Intern for The Home Depot, a Fortune 25 Company, and during the summer of 2020, Caambridge worked as a Summer Associate at Eraclides Gelman, a workers’ compensation defense firm. Caambridge graduated from Georgia State University College of Law, magna cum laude, on May 15, 2021, with several honors and distinctions and will be working at Cruser, Mitchell, Novitz, Sanchez, Gaston & Zimet LLP upon completing the July 2021 Georgia Bar Exam.

DONALD LEE HOWELL LEGACY AWARD

Caambridge Horton 2021 Scholarship Recipient

CARL ANTHONY CUNNINGHAM, ESQ. Carl Anthony Cunningham, Esquire, exemplified the best traditions of service and commitment in his professional and community life. A graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law, Cunningham started his legal career with the Senior Citizens Law Project of Atlanta Legal Aid in 1984 and subsequently opened his own law practice. In 1988, then Governor Joe Frank Harris appointed Cunningham to the Georgia Disability Board. Because of his tremendous advocacy on behalf of disabled people, Cunningham was appointed to the Disability Development Council in 1999.

Cunningham did not let his blindness, which occurred while in college at Georgia State University, disable him. Instead it provided him with incredible insight into the need of those with disabilities. He possessed the innate ability to persevere and thrive as an outstanding attorney and advocate.

Superior Court Judge and past president of the DeKalb Lawyers Association, Gregory A. Adams, was a classmate of Cunningham at the University of Georgia. Judge Adams recognized the importance of celebrating individuals who demonstrated positive traits of the human spirit and therefore initiated this scholarship in honor of his friend, Carl Anthony Cunningham in 2005.

Simran Modi is a rising 3L at the Emory University School of Law. She is a Symposium Editor for the Emory Law Journal and Deputy Director of the Emory Law School Supreme Court Advocacy Program. Simran is passionate about pro bono work and has previously worked with both the Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta and the Atlanta Legal Aid Society. This summer, she will be a Summer Associate at King & Spalding. She will also serve as a Legal Extern at the U.S. Attorney’s Office during the upcoming school year. Simran hopes to pursue a career in litigation.

CARL ANTHONY CUNNINGHAM MEMORIAL BOOK SCHOLARSHIP

Simran Modi 2021 Scholarship Recipient

U.S. CONGRESSMAN HANK JOHNSON, JR. Now beginning his sixth term in the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District – which encompasses parts of DeKalb, Gwinnett and Newton counties and all of Rockdale county – Congressman Hank Johnson has distinguished himself as a substantive, effective lawmaker and a leading national progressive voice. Named one of the most effective Democrats in congress by a University of Virginia and the University of Vanderbilt study, Rep. Johnson has proven his

ability to get things done. In 2017 at the launch of the 115th Congress

Rep. Johnson landed a coveted seat on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee (T&I) and was unanimously voted by his colleagues to be Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management. The subcommittee conducts oversight of programs addressing federal management of emergencies and natural disasters including oversight of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is responsible for programs promoting economic development in communities suffering economic distress. It also has jurisdiction over public buildings, federal real estate programs and the Public Buildings Service (PBS) of the General Services Administration (GSA), which is the civilian landlord of the federal government. From his seat on the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Johnson has introduced, co-sponsored and passed legislation to level the playing field for everyday Americans. His bills that protect consumers and citizens’ civil liberties include the Arbitration Fairness Act (AFA) and the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act. As a champion for digital inclusion and an open Internet, Rep. Johnson has pushed to empower low-income and minority communities through digital rights, broadband access, and equality of opportunity online as ranking member of the subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law (RRCAL).

A member of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Johnson became a leading national voice for the demilitarization of local law enforcement agencies in 2014 after police donned camouflage tactical gear and climbed abroad heavily armored vehicles to confront peaceful protestors in the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, in the aftermath of the shooting death of an unarmed teenager. To help restore trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve, he filed the Police Accountability Act and the Grand Jury Reform Act in the wake of police shooting deaths of unarmed black men across the country.

In 2010, Rep, Johnson was a member of the prosecution team in the impeachment trial of New Orleans U.S. District Judge G. Thomas Porteous Jr., resulting in the first impeachment and conviction of a federal judge in more than two decades. In 2016, Rep. Johnson earned an honorary doctorate from his beloved alma mater Clark Atlanta University. Prior to taking his seat in Congress in 2006, Rep. Johnson practiced criminal defense law in Georgia for twenty-seven (27) years. He served twelve (12) years as a magistrate judge, and five (5) years as a county commissioner. Rep. Johnson is married to DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson and has two adult children.

My name is DeChino Duke, an upcoming 2nd year law student at Georgia State University College of Law. I am currently pursuing a Certificate in Health Law where I plan to continue the conversation of providing affordable health care to all. In addition, I aim to be a resource for health systems and organizations to navigate complex health laws and regulations to strengthen their operations and provide quality services to their communities. While I strive to keep my community healthy, I find bike riding and running to be healthy outlets to maintain my physical, mental, and emotional health.”

CONGRESSMAN HANK JOHNSON, JR. SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

DeChino Duke 2021 Scholarship Recipient

LAURENE DUHART JACKSON SCHOLARSHIP The Honorable Laurene Duhart Jackson will forever be remembered for her unwavering commitment to family, community and career. She had a tremendous work ethic which allowed her to enjoy rich successes in both her personal and professional life. While working full time as a certified paralegal, she attended the University of Georgia and earned a law degree in 1992. She began her legal career in the public sector working as attorney for the SBA Disaster Victims Program and later worked as an Assistant Solicitor for the City, a hearing officer and Assistant County Attorney for Fulton County, before going into private practice in DeKalb County. Just prior to her transition in December of 2013, Judge Jackson maintained a thriving law practice, worked as an Associate Recorder’s Court Judge, a Legal Services Officer for the Georgia Department of Community Health, held ‘working leadership” roles in several civic organizations, all while raising her two daughters and enjoying an active social life with her husband, extended family and friends. She truly worked hard and played hard!

The ‘Laurene Jackson Work Hard Play Hard scholarship originated by Judge Jackson’s friend and former law partner, Genet Hopewell, to encourage the recipients to follow the example of working hard and enjoying the personal and profession fruits of their labor. The scholarship has been funded over the years by Judge Jackson’s colleagues, Precious Anderson, R. Joy Walker and Yolvondria Martin; Delta Sigma Theta Sisters, Rathelia Stroud, Sherry Jackson, Renata D. Turner, Myrna White, Gena Cooper and Faye Jackson and friend, Dr. Constance Franklin.

Taylor McClain is a rising 2L at the University of Georgia School of Law. There she serves as President of the UGA Law American Constitution Society, Secretary of the Labor and Employment Law Association, and as a Dean’s Ambassador. Taylor is passionate about furthering racial justice through law and policy.

She moved from home in New York to build community in a new part of the country and get an excellent legal education that would allow her to pursue her dreams freely. Taylor holds a B.A. with honors in American Studies from Wesleyan University, where she studied race in American history and culture and studied abroad in Durban, South Africa. Apart from her studies, Taylor loves to make time for cooking and practicing yoga.

LAURENE DUHART JACKSON SCHOLARSHIP

Taylor McClain 2021 Scholarship Recipient

Savanha Renald is an abolitionist and an environmentalist who uses both academics and community engagement to bring about social change. A researcher and community organizer, with interests in environmentalism, Savanha has completed research on the public health effects of prisons on neighboring communities as well as published research on the environmental and public health effects of gentrification in Gainesville, Florida. As a community organizer, Savanha has immersed themself with local politics and community engagement; orchestrating town hall meetings and local proceedings in order to express concerns to local constituents on topics including policing, voting, education, and the environment. Savanha has continued to develop themself as a scholar and community leader by attending Emory Univ. School of Law. Here, they serve as the vice president for both the Emory Environmental Law Society and for Emory’s Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild.

DEKALB LAYWERS PRESIDENT SCHOLARSHIP WINNER

Savanha Renald

2021 Scholarship Recipient

Wayne Kendall is an attorney who has been practicing law in the State of Georgia for over 40 years. He attended college at Howard University and law school at Georgetown University Law Center. He has been a member of the Bar for the State of Georgia since 1981.

Attorney Kendall considers himself a general litigation practitioner however concentrating in civil rights litigation, governmental abuse of power matters and public interest litigation centered around voter participation and election law. Attorney Kendall has participated in successfully filing over 20 voting rights lawsuits, against various cities, counties and school boards in the State of Georgia, under the 1965 Voting Rights Act, dating back to the mid-1980’s. He has never lost a voting rights case. Most recently, he participated in filing a Voting Rights lawsuit against the Fayette County Board of Commissioners and School Board. This lawsuit resulted in a change in the method of election for the two boards from at-large voting; a method of election, which is proven to dilute minority voting strength, to district-based voting. Prior to the lawsuit, no minority person had been elected to either board in the 193-year history of the County.

Kendall is also involved in other types of civil rights litigation including claims under 42 USC 1983 involving the deprivation of individual rights of citizens by governmental officials. Currently he is involved in a public interest lawsuit involving the failure of the Fulton County Board of Assessors to to tax the Mercedes-Benz Stadium; and recently successfully concluded a Whistleblower lawsuit against the Clayton County Board of Commissioners, and lawsuits in federal court against several local police departments for civil rights violations. Kendall is and has been lead counsel in other civil rights actions in multiple federal jurisdictions including North Carolina, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Attorney Kendall has also represented numerous elected officials across the State of Georgia in election contest matters seeking to vindicate his clients’ rights for election process violations.

Mr. Kendall is an enthusiastic member participant in Advocacy for Action, a political action committee, which seeks to impact the diversity of judges sitting on Georgia’s state and federal courts. He serves as the treasurer of the organization’s political action fund. Kendall most recently became involved in the production of a documentary film (thehometeamfilm.com) bringing public awareness to the misallocation of public resources to sports stadiums and arenas such as the Mercedes-Benz Stadium to the detriment of surrounding historic neighborhoods such as Atlanta’s Vine City and English Avenue neighborhoods.

Kendall is married to Dr. Cheryl Jones Kendall, a pediatric physician, and has two adult daughters a son-in-law and two grandchildren. He has resided in Fayette County since 1990. He is a member of Impact United Methodist Church in East Point, Georgia.

Contact Attorney Kendall at wayne@waynebkendallpc.com or (770) 778-8810.

Wayne B. Kendall legal warrior award recipient

Congratulations

TO DEKALB LAWYERS ASSOCIATION AND THE SCHOLARSHIP BREAKFAST AWARD RECIPIENTS

Chief Judge Berryl A. Anderson DeKalb County Magistrate Court

Thank you President Wilson and the entire DeKalb Lawyers Association for your commitment to building a pathway for those who will come after us.

I congratulate each and every one of this year’s scholarship recipients. Your dedication, persistence and excellence in the face of a global pandemic is amazing and worth celebrating. I wish you the best on your journey. www.judgekimberlyanderson.com

Since 2008 13 Years

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info@judgekimberlyanderson.com

Congratulations from Judge Mike Jacobs to all the scholarship recipients and to the DeKalb Lawyers Association for another year of excellence.

“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.” – Maya Angelou

Congratulations from the DEKALB LAWYERS ASSOCIATION to the

2021 Scholarship Recipients

Job Well Done!

FOUNDERS OF THE DEKALB LAWYERS ASSOCIATION

ROBERT BURROUGHS

JUDGE MICHAEL HANCOCK

GENET MCINTOSH HOPEWELL

VERNON PITTS

CONGRESSMAN HANK JOHNSON

MEREDA DAVIS JOHNSON

DOROTHY COPRICH | WILLIAM OUTLAW | WAYMON SIMS | JAMES WEST

PIONEERS OF THE DEKALB LAWYERS ASSOCIATION

JUDGE GREGORY ADAMS

JUDGE WINSTON BETHEL

RICHARD DEANE

GARY HURST

BOBBY GIDDENS | CLIFFORD HARDWICK | SAMPSON OLIVER | PAUL ROBINSON | HENRIETTA TURNQUEST

PICTURE OF Donald Lee Hollowell at DLA Breakfast

Sponsors Debra DeBerry Judge Bedelia Hargrove Kimani King Judge Mike Jacobs

Erica Wilson, Esq. The 36th President

D E K A L B L AWYE RS A SSOCI AT I ON

DeKalbLawyersAssociation.org