JMLBA in Columbus
Roughly 100 years after Mr. Langston’s death, in May 1998, an inspired coterie of ten African-American lawyers assembled to share the issues and problems affecting them, and to discuss how they could better serve each other and their community. With the National Council for Black Lawyers and the Robert B. Elliott Law Club then defunct, this collection of lawyers, inspired by Langston, formed the John Mercer Langston Bar Association, electing Patsy Thomas’ as its first president. The mission statement pleaded to “promote professional development, networking, mentoring, and community activism.
Today, JMLBA membership has grown to 200 members and there are over 600 Black attorneys in Franklin and the surrounding counties.
Past JMLBA Presidents
2022-2023: Ryan Wheeler
2019-2020: Azure’D Metoyer
2018-2019: Elizabeth Cary
2017-2018: Beatrice Nokuri
2016-2017: Lindsay Ford Ellis
2015-2016: Jocelyn Armstrong
2014-2015: Jarrod Skinner
2013-2014: Lisa Whittaker
2012-2013: Jennifer Adair
2011-2012: Anthony Sharett