Famous Black Lawyers & Judges

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 1 
Johnnie Cochran
(American Lawyer and Civil Activist Best Known for Defending and Acquitting 'O. J. Simpson')
Johnnie Cochran
7
Birthdate: October 2, 1937
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
Died: March 29, 2005
Johnnie Cochran was an American civil activist and lawyer. Cochran played an important role in the acquittal of former football player O. J. Simpson in connection with the murder of the latter's ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson. Cochran had also represented other celebrities like Michael Jackson, Sean Combs, Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, Riddick Bowe, and Jim Brown to name a few.
 2 
Christopher Darden
5
Birthdate: April 7, 1956
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Martinez, California, United States

Christopher Darden is a man who dons many hats. He is a lawyer, author, actor, and lecturer with 15 years of experience in the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office. He was a co-prosecutor in the O. J. Simpson murder case. He resigned after the case and started teaching criminal procedure and trial advocacy to university students.

 3 
Vernon Jordan
(Lawyer)
Vernon Jordan
3
Birthdate: August 15, 1935
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
 4 
Maya Harris
(American Lawyer, Public Policy Advocate & Sister of 49th Vice President of United States, Kamala Harris)
Maya Harris
18
Birthdate: January 30, 1967
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, United States

A lawyer, law professor, political analyst and a civil rights activist, Maya Harris’s list of achievements is huge. One of the youngest in the US to become a law school dean, Maya Harris has worked with Hillary Clinton and her own sister Kamala Harris in their respective presidential campaigns.

 5 
Clarence Thomas
(Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States)
Clarence Thomas
15
Birthdate: June 23, 1948
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Montgomery, Georgia, United States

The second African-American justice to serve on the Supreme Court of America, the appointment of Clarence Thomas in 1991 was controversial. He was accused of sexual harassment by lawyer Anita Hill in public hearings, but was eventually cleared. He is on the conservative side of the court and has been criticised by liberals for opposing issues like gay marriage.

 6 
Larry Elder
(Radio Host)
Larry Elder
4
Birthdate: April 27, 1952
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
 7 
Sunny Hostin
(Lawyer, Journalist and Co-Host on ABC's Morning Talk Show 'The View')
Sunny Hostin
6
Birthdate: October 20, 1968
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Sunny Hostin is an American journalist, lawyer, and television host. She is best known for co-hosting the popular talk show, The View, for which she has received four Daytime Emmy Award nominations so far. Before appearing on TV, Sunny Hostin served as a federal prosecutor; for successfully prosecuting sex offenders, Hostin was honored with a Special Achievement Award.

 8 
Eric Holder
(82nd United States Attorney General)
Eric Holder
6
Birthdate: January 21, 1951
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States

Eric Holder is an American lawyer. In 2008, Legal Times magazine described him as one of the visionaries and named him in its list of the Greatest Washington Lawyers of the Past 30 Years. In 2009, he became the first African American to serve as the Attorney General of the US, a position which he held until 2015. 

 9 
Barbara Jordan
4
Birthdate: February 21, 1936
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Houston
Died: January 17, 1996
 10 
Faith Jenkins
(Attorney)
Faith Jenkins
4
Birthdate: 1977 AD
Birthplace: Shreveport, Louisiana
 11 
Anita Hill
(American Lawyer Who in 1991 Accused U.S. Supreme Court Nominee Clarence Thomas of Sexual Harassment)
Anita Hill
7
Birthdate: July 30, 1956
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Lone Tree, Oklahoma, United States
 12 
Laverne Cox
(First Transgender Person To Appear on Cover of 'Time' Magazine)
Laverne Cox
0
Birthdate: May 29, 1972
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Mobile, Alabama, United States
 13 
Judy Smith
(Crisis manager)
Judy Smith
3
Birthdate: October 27, 1958
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States
 14 
Bernice King
(American Lawyer, Minister, and the Youngest Child of Martin Luther King Jr. And Coretta Scott King)
Bernice King
4
Birthdate: March 28, 1963
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Bernice King is an American minister best known as the daughter of the popular activist and leader Martin Luther King Jr. Over the years, Barnice King has supported many noble causes for which she has been honored with several awards. In 2009, she was honored at the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Convention for her service to women.

 15 
Eboni Williams
(Attorney & News Personality)
Eboni Williams
3
Birthdate: September 9, 1988
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: North Carolina, United States
 16 
Lauren Lake
(Lawyer)
Lauren Lake
3
Birthdate: August 12, 1969
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
 17 
Maynard Jackson
(Mayor of Atlanta)
Maynard Jackson
3
Birthdate: March 23, 1938
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas
Died: June 23, 2003
 18 
Hank Johnson
(Politician)
Hank Johnson
3
Birthdate: October 2, 1954
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Washington, D.C., U.S.
 19 
Terri Sewell
(Politician)
Terri Sewell
3
Birthdate: January 1, 1965
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Huntsville, Alabama Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
 20 
Star Jones
(Lawyer, Journalist, Television Personality & Fashion Designer)
Star Jones
5
Birthdate: March 24, 1962
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Badin, North Carolina, United States
 21 
Joe Brown
(Lawyer, Television personality)
Joe Brown
0
Birthdate: July 5, 1947
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States
 22 
Greg Mathis
(Judge)
Greg Mathis
0
Birthdate: April 5, 1960
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, USA
 23 
Jumaane Williams
(5th New York City Public Advocate Incumbent)
Jumaane Williams
0
Birthdate: May 11, 1976
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
 24 
Michael Powell
(Son of former Secretary of State Colin Powell)
Michael Powell
0
Birthdate: March 23, 1963
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Birmingham, Alabama, United States
 25 
Derrick Bell
(Lawyer)
Derrick Bell
3
Birthdate: November 6, 1930
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Pennsylvania, United States
Died: October 5, 2011
 26 
Sandra Mason
(1st President of Barbados, Lawyer, and diplomat)
Sandra Mason
0
Birthdate: January 17, 1949
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Saint Philip, Barbados
 27 
Mary Ann Shadd
(American-Canadian Activist, Journalist, Publisher and the First Black Woman Publisher in North America)
Mary Ann Shadd
3
Birthdate: October 9, 1823
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Wilmington, Delaware, United States
Died: June 5, 1893

The first North American Black woman to publish a newspaper, USA-born Mary Ann Shadd was the founder of the Canadian newspaper, The Provincial Freeman. Concurrently serving as its anonymous editor and contributor, she also became one of the first women to pursue journalism in Canada. She was also one of the first Black women to earn a degree in law.

 28 
Florynce Kennedy
(Former activist for feminism and civil rights)
Florynce Kennedy
3
Birthdate: February 11, 1916
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Died: December 21, 2000
 29 
Jonathan Luna
(Lawyer)
Jonathan Luna
0
Birthdate: October 21, 1965
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Mott Haven, New York, United States
Died: December 4, 2003
 30 
Philip Davis
(5th Prime Minister of the Bahamas and Lawyer)
Philip Davis
0
Birthdate: June 7, 1951
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Nassau, The Bahamas
 31 
Charles W. Chesnutt
(Author)
Charles W. Chesnutt
2
Birthdate: June 20, 1858
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Died: November 17, 1932
 32 
Fatou Bensouda
(Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court)
Fatou Bensouda
0
Birthdate: January 31, 1961
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Banjul, The Gambia
 33 
Femi Gbajabiamila
(Nigerian Lawyer and Politician)
Femi Gbajabiamila
0
Birthdate: June 25, 1962
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Lagos State, Nigeria

Nigerian lawyer and politician Femi Gbajabiamila, a member of All Progressives Congress, serves as the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria since June 2019. He became a member of the House of Representatives of Nigeria in May 2003 and served as Minority Leader and thereafter as House Leader of the House of Representatives before assuming office as Speaker.

 34 
Edward Akufo-Addo
(Former President of Ghana (1970 – 1972))
Edward Akufo-Addo
3
Birthdate: June 26, 1906
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Dodowa
Died: July 17, 1979

Edward Akufo-Addo was a Ghanaian lawyer and politician. He is best remembered for his service as the second President of Ghana from 31 August 1970 to 13 January 1972. He also served as the Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana from 1962 to 1964 and as the Chief Justice of Ghana from 1966 to 1970.

 35 
Dean Barrow
(4th Prime Minister of Belize)
Dean Barrow
0
Birthdate: March 2, 1951
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Belize City, Belize
 36 
Richard Theodore Greener
(Educator)
Richard Theodore Greener
2
Birthdate: January 30, 1844
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: May 2, 1922
 37 
P. J. Patterson
(6th Prime Minister of Jamaica)
P. J. Patterson
2
Birthdate: April 10, 1935
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Hanover Parish, Jamaica

P. J. Patterson is a Jamaican retired politician known for his service as the Prime Minister of Jamaica from 1992 to 2006, the longest term for any prime minister in the history of Jamaica. Patterson also served as the Minister of Defence from 1992 to 2006 and as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade from 1978 to 1980.

 38 
Errol Barrow
(1st Prime Minister of Barbados)
Errol Barrow
0
Birthdate: January 21, 1920
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Saint Lucy, Barbados
Died: June 1, 1987
 39 
Louis Stokes
(Politician, Lawyer)
Louis Stokes
2
Birthdate: February 23, 1925
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Died: August 18, 2015
 40 
Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander
(Solicitor)
Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander
2
Birthdate: January 2, 1898
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: November 1, 1989
 41 
J.B. Danquah
(One of the Founding Fathers of Ghana)
J.B. Danquah
2
Birthdate: December 18, 1895
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Bepong, Ghana
Died: February 4, 1965

J. B. Danquah was a Ghanaian politician, lawyer, and scholar. Counted among the founding fathers of Ghana, Danquah is best remembered for his influential role in pre and post-colonial Ghana. J. B. Danquah is also credited with naming his country Ghana.

 42 
Jane Bolin
(American judge)
Jane Bolin
2
Birthdate: April 11, 1908
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Poughkeepsie, New York, United States
Died: January 8, 2007
 43 
Eugenia Charles
(Politician)
Eugenia Charles
2
Birthdate: May 15, 1919
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Pointe Michel, Dominica
Died: September 6, 2005
 44 
Catherine Samba-Panza
(President of the Central African Republic 2014 - 2016)
Catherine Samba-Panza
0
Birthdate: June 26, 1954
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: N'Djamena, Chad
 45 
Randall Robinson
(Lawyer)
Randall Robinson
2
Birthdate: July 6, 1941
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Richmond, Virginia, United States
 46 
Tundu Lissu
(Politician, lawyer)
Tundu Lissu
0
Birthdate: January 20, 1968
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Singida, Tanzania
 47 
Jacob Oulanyah
(Speaker of the 11th Parliament of Uganda)
Jacob Oulanyah
0
Birthdate: March 23, 1965
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Gulu, Uganda
 48 
Alphonso David
(Former president of the Human Rights Campaign)
Alphonso David
0
Birthdate: 1971 AD
Birthplace: Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
 49 
Najla Mangoush
(Lawyer, Politician)
Najla Mangoush
2
Birthdate: April 5, 1970
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Benghazi, Libya
 50 
Tony Martin
(Academic, Writer)
Tony Martin
2
Birthdate: February 21, 1942
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Died: January 17, 2013