Judge Brooke Reid Hosts WIT Judicial Day for Young Leaders

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.