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Audio of Forum

JUSTICE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON

OATH CEREMONY

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Miami, Florida, June 30, 2022 - The Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association (“GSCBWLA”) congratulates Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on being sworn in as the 116th Associate Justice to the Supreme Court of the United States. We also congratulate Doctor Patrick Jackson, Attorney Johnny Brown, Principal Ellery Brown, and their entire family.

Justice Jackson is the first Black woman sworn in as an Associate Justice to the United States Supreme Court. "It has taken 232 years and 115 prior appointments for a Black woman to be selected to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States, but we've made it! We've made it — all of us." ~ the Honorable Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson

The Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association is committed to equality in the legal profession and diversity in the judiciary. A diverse bench is a bench that is diverse along racial, cultural, ethnic, and gender lines, and is reflective of the community it serves.

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The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit seeks applications from all highly qualified candidates for a fourteen (14) year appointment as United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of Florida (Miami).

In you are interested in applying, please submit an original unbound completed application to James P. Gerstenlauer, Circuit Executive, 56 Forsyth Street, NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. Emailed and faxed applications will not be accepted. Application forms are available on the Court's website atwww.ca11.uscourts.gov. Applications must be received by July 22, 2022.

Click Here for More Information

The Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association (GSCBWLA) is committed to investing in the future of the legal profession.  In support of this goal, GSCBWLA is proud to announce the availability of our 2022 Summer Fellowship, which is offered in partnership with Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. 

We are seeking an extraordinary student with a strong commitment to public service. To be eligible for the GSCBWLA Fellowship, prospective applicants must be enrolled in law school, be a 2L, 3L, 4L, or LLM student, and demonstrate a commitment to equal justice and advocating for low-income clients in Miami-Dade County. This is Fellowship will require the student to work 10-12 weeks. A stipend will be provided to the GSCBWLA Fellow. The responsibilities assigned to the GSCBWLA Fellow vary and depend upon the needs of Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc.

Applications MUST be submitted to the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association c/o Nakia Ruffin via email to info@gscbwla.org no later than 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 3, 2022

Winners of the GSCBWLA Summer 2022 Fellowship will be notified on or before Thursday, June 16, 2022 

Click here for the GSCBWLA Summer 2022 Fellowship Application

The Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association (GSCBWLA) is committed to investing in the future of the legal profession. To support this goal GSCBWLA is proud to announce our 2022 Book Scholarship Award and our 2022 Excellence Scholarship Award.

This year’s Book Scholarship Awards are available to current law students attending law schools throughout Florida that will assist them in buying books for class or for bar review. This year’s Excellence scholarships are available to African-American 3L law students attending law school in Florida. 

Winners of the GSCBWLA 2022 Book Scholarship Awards and GSCBWLA 2022 Excellence Scholarship Award will be announced at the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association’s Scholarship, Awards & Installation Banquet on Thursday, June 16, 2022 (in-person event).

Applications MUST be submitted

via email to info@gscbwla.org 

no later than 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 3, 2022

Click here for the GSCBWLA 2022 Book Scholarship Awards Application

Click here for the GSCBWLA 2022 Excellence Scholarship Award Application

CONFIRMATION OF JUSTICE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON 

TO THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Miami, Florida, April 7, 2022 - The Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association (“GSCBWLA”) congratulates Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on her confirmation to the Supreme Court of the United States as an Associate Justice. We also congratulate Doctor Patrick Jackson, Attorney Johnny Brown, Principal Ellery Brown, and their entire family on the confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Justice Jackson is the first Black woman confirmed to the United States Supreme Court. Her historic confirmation occurred 232 years after the Supreme Court of the United States held its first assembly and 150 years after Attorney Charlotte E. Ray passed the bar in the District of Columbia. Justice Jackson’s confirmation is marked progress towards the concept that the bench of the Supreme Court of the United States should reflect the great diversity of this nation.

We commend President Biden for nominating her to the highest court in the land and commend the United States Senate’s bipartisan confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

“Justice Jackson’s confirmation epitomizes the highest ideals of the United States of America where anyone can hope, dream, and work hard to become anything that they want to be including a Justice for the Supreme Court of the United States.” - GSCBWLA President Nakia Ruffin

The Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association is committed to equality in the legal profession and diversity in the judiciary.  A diverse bench is a bench that is diverse along racial, cultural, ethnic, and gender lines, and is reflective of the community it serves.

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Deadline Extended for JNC Nomination Applications! 

The Florida Bar nominates six lawyers for each of the state’s 26 judicial nominating commissions to the governor for appointment. The Bar’s Board of Governors wants all interested attorneys to apply because it is critical to have a wide range of attorneys, from diverse practice areas, geographic locations, and demographics, to select from.

Applications must be submitted no later than 5:30 p.m., Thursday, March 24.

Each appointee will serve a four-year term, commencing July 1. Applicants must be members of The Florida Bar engaged in the practice of law and a resident of the territorial jurisdiction served by the JNC to which the member is applying. Commissioners are ineligible for state judicial office for vacancies filled by the JNC on which they sit for two years following completion of their terms.

The Board of Governors’ screening committees reviews all JNC applications. The Executive Committee then makes recommendations to the Board of Governors.

Click here to begin the application process and download the new application form. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application. If you require assistance, call Bar headquarters at 850-561-5757 or email kwilson@floridabar.org.

Apply Now!

NOMINATION OF JUDGE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON
TO THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Miramar, Florida, February 25, 2022 - President Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court of the United States. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is the first Black woman nominee to the Supreme Court of the United States and she is extremely well-qualified to serve as a United States Supreme Court Justice. We applaud today’s history making nomination.

We also acknowledge that the nomination occurred 232 years after the Supreme Court of the United States held its first assembly and 150 years after Attorney Charlotte E. Ray passed the bar in the District of Columbia. The nomination is progress towards embodying the concept that the bench, including the Supreme Court of the United States, should reflect the community in which it serves. The Supreme Court’s community is the entire United States of America and as such should reflect the great diversity of this nation.

The Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association congratulates Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on her nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States. We also commend President Biden for nominating her to the highest court in the land.

We are committed to equality in the legal profession and diversity in the judiciary. A diverse bench is a bench that is diverse along racial, cultural, ethnic, and gender lines, and is reflective of the community it serves.

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For donation of physical items please contact Chair, Sherria Williams, Esq., at williams.sherria@gmail.com or 305-986-1860. To make a monetary donation, please donate at https://gscbwla.org/foundation. Thank you!