Famous Black Lawyers & Judges

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

Nigerian statesman and lawyer Chief Ernest Shonekan GCFR, served simultaneously as head of government and head of transitional council under Ibrahim Babangida. Following crisis of Third Republic, the Interim National Government was established with Shonekan as interim Head of State. Shonekan’s largely powerless government was eventually overthrown in the 1993 Nigerian coup d'état led by Defence Minister General Sani Abacha.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.