| A Note from the Office of Dean Leonard M. Baynes |
| February’s annual recognition of Black History Month provides us with a time to reflect on African American icons who fought for equality and inclusion and who blazed trails for others to follow. Given the skills necessary to be a successful lawyer, it is no surprise that many prominent Black leaders throughout U.S. history have been lawyers such as Thurgood Marshall, Clarence Thomas, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Constance Baker Motley, Barack Obama, Barbara Jordan, William Thaddeus Coleman Jr., and Kamala Harris. However, their prominence does not reflect African Americans’ representation in the legal profession today. Recent U.S. Census statistics indicate that while African Americans comprise 13.4% of the U.S. population, only 4.5% of lawyers in America are Black, according to the American Bar Association's 2022 Profile of the Legal Profession. It is quite ironic that the profession that was responsible for breaking down the legal barriers of racial segregation is still one of the least diverse. That’s why it is so important to celebrate Black History Month by showcasing the success African American attorneys; by recognizing these accomplishments, we can encourage more young people to think about becoming lawyers; we can also encourage our society writ large to see African American lawyers as not an anomaly but as an everyday occurrence. During this month, it is important to celebrate UH Law Center’s own successful African American graduates! One African American alumna recently made history with her election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Jasmine Crockett ‘06 assumed office in January 2023 to represent Texas’ 30th Congressional District in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area. Elected last November, she is currently the sole Law Center graduate serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the first African American Law Center graduate to do so. |
US Rep. Jasmine Crockett |
| Crockett was named a freshman leadership representative, an honor bestowed upon her by colleagues. After graduating from UH Law Center, Crockett worked as a civil rights attorney and a public defender in Bowie County before starting her own practice. In 2020, she won a special election to the Texas House of Representatives starting her legislative political career. I am proud of Rep. Crockett’s accomplishments and hope that Law Center students and alumni can gain inspiration from her impressive journey. Please take a moment to click through the slideshow to see other African American UH Law Center graduates, law faculty, and administrators who have made a significant impact while at the Law Center, in the world of academia, the legal profession, and society. During this Black History Month, I encourage you to pay tribute to those who contributed to this resilient and rich history, while also considering how we can build upon it for the greater good of humanity. In recognition of Black History Month, I would also like to invite you to attend our annual celebratory event on Feb. 16 at 6:30 p.m. The Law Center is hosting the Bracewell LLP Distinguished Lecture in Racial and Social Justice, featuring keynote speaker Reginald Dwayne Betts. Betts is an award-winning author, poet, attorney and criminal justice reform advocate. |
Leonard M. Baynes Share Your Thoughts with the Dean |
