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Each fall, the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia (WBA) comes together for Stars of the Bar, a free networking event that kicks off the WBA’s programming year. The WBA’s typical in-person event brings together hundreds of leaders in the DC legal community—women and men alike—who gather to network with each other and the WBA leadership to learn more about the WBA. Of course, this year the WBA was unable to host Stars of the Bar in person, and instead hosted a virtual, online event.

In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, the WBA will honor champions in the fight for women’s voting rights throughout history. We recognize that women’s suffrage was not fully realized when the 19th Amendment was passed. The voting rights of Black women were not protected until the passage of the Voting Rights Act. But even the promise of the Voting Rights Act has not been fully realized. And today returning and reintegrating citizens and District residents, among others, still face challenges exercising the right to vote.

For their tireless efforts in advancing suffrage and voting rights for all, this year’s Stars of the Bar were:

Belva Ann Lockwood (posthumously), accepted by Dr. Jill Norgren, Professor Emeritus at John Jay College and the University Graduate Center, The City University of New York and biographer of Belva Ann Lockwood;

Congressman John Lewis (posthumously), accepted by his brother, Grant Lewis; and

Kristen Clarke, President of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

We also presented the Mussey-Gillett Shining Star Award to Janine Herring.

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An Open Discussion on Reasons for this Lack of Diversity and An Examination of Viable Solutions.

This program was presented by the Women’s Bar Association and the Greater Washington Area Chapter, Women Lawyers Division, National Bar Association (GWAC).

Panelists:

Hon. Anita Josey-Herring, Associate Judge, DC Superior Court

Hope Goins, Staff Director, House Committee on Homeland Security

Fatima Goss-Graves President & CEO, National Women’s Law Center

Sylvia F. James, Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Winston & Strawn LLP

Sandra Shaw, Vice President of Legal Affairs and Privacy Officer, BridgeStreet Global Hospitality (ended June 2020)

Moderator:

Yolanda Hawkins-Bautista WBA Past President & Associate General Counsel, Freddie Mac