Hon. Brooke E. Reid, Circuit Judge, Fifteenth Judicial Court of Alabama, facilitated a day-long WIT Judicial Experience at the Phelps-Price Justice Center, formerly known as the Montgomery County Courthouse, for WIT Young Leaders.
Several prominent women attorneys had guided conversations with members of the WIT Leadership Development Academy, as well as high school young women from area public and private schools. The young leaders also observed court proceedings with circuit judges. The day’s highlight was lunch with women federal judges.
From left to right (in the rear): Hon. Brooke E. Reid, Glamoura Akwuba, Ms. Shawn Cole, Esq., An Wilkes Cavanaugh, Gabrielle Johns, JeNai Turner, Jazlyn Samples, Ms. Tamika Miller, Esq., and Hon. Terri Lovell. In the front row, left to right: Mary Elizabeth Cole, Emily Ingram, Breanna Bennett, Brooke Bennett, Amiyah-Sarea Goshton, and
Ms. Christy Crow, Esq.
The day included the following interactive sessions:
A Practical View from Female Attorneys practicing in the Area of General Civil Litigation
Shawn Cole, Esq., Civil Defense Attorney at Hill, Hill, Carter, Franco, Cole & Black, PC
Christy Crow, Esq., Past President of Alabama State Bar, and Principal at Jinks, Crow & Dickson, and
Tamika Miller, Esq., Partner at Miller Smith, LLC
The Relationship Between the Bench and Bar
Hon. Terri Lovell, Retired Circuit Judge and Executive Director of the Alabama State Bar
Introduction to Circuit Court Proceedings
Hon. J.R. Gaines, Circuit Judge, Fifteenth Judicial Court of Alabama
Court Proceedings
Courtroom of Hon. Brooke E. Reid
Open Conversation with Public Defender and District Attorney
Aylia McKee, JD, Public Defender, and Azzie Taylor, JD, Chief Deputy District Attorney
Lunch and Conversation with Federal Judges
Hon. Emily C. Marks, Chief Judge of the United States Middle District
Hon. Kelly Pate, Federal Magistrate Judge, and
Hon. Jerusha Adams, Federal Magistrate Judge
Preliminary Hearings
Pamela Higgins, District Judge, Fifteenth Judicial Court of Alabama
Ms. Aylia McKee, JD, and Ms. Azzie Taylor, JD
The ten high school young women who participated in the WIT Judicial Experience on September 8, 2022, are as follows:
Glamoura Akwuba, LAMP Academic Magnet High School
Breanna Bennett, The Montgomery Academy
Brooke Bennett, The Montgomery Academy
An Wilkes Cavanaugh, The Montgomery Academy
Mary Elizabeth Cole, The Montgomery Academy
Amiyah Goshton, LAMP Academic Magnet High School
Emily Ingram, The Montgomery Academy
Gabrielle Johns, Brewbaker Technology Magnet School
Jazlyn Samples, LAMP Magnet High School
JeNai Turner, Brewbaker Technology Magnet School
Federal judges seated in the front row: Hon. Emily C. Marks, Hon. Kelly Pate, and Hon. Jerusha Adams
Seated in the blue blazer is Mrs. Claudia Mitchell, Montgomery Public Schools Board Member Claudia Mitchell, who also serves as the Women in Training, Inc. Vice President. Mrs. Mitchell, along with Ms. Adeyela Bennett, Women in Training, CEO; Ms. Tania Johns, WIT Vice President for Youth Development; and
Mrs. Sandra Whatley-Washington, WIT Development Director; chaperoned the young leaders.
WIT Young Leader Glamoura Akwuba of LAMP Academic Magnet Academy
asks a question while seating in the jury pool.