Rolling Out Celebrates Black History Month With Spirit of Justice Awards
 Paul Howard |
History
makers, distinguished pioneers and principle influencers of Georgia’s
judicial system — and beyond — convened for rolling out’s Spirit of
Justice Awards during Black History Month. The upscale soirée, which
took place at the ultra-exclusive 191 Club in downtown Atlanta,
featured an awe-inspiring list of legal authorities whose
accomplishments paved the way for a more equitable judicial system.
Paul Howard, the first African American district attorney in Georgia
history; Thurbert Baker, the first African American to become Georgia’s
attorney general; Justice Robert Benham, a 20-year member of Georgia’s
Supreme Court; Judge M. Yvette Miller, the first African American woman
sworn in as Chief Judge of the Court of the Court of Appeals of
Georgia; and Judge Marvin Arrington Sr., a former city council
president were honored for their invaluable contributions to the legal
landscape.
U.S. Representative John Lewis, D-Ga., who was
out of the country, was also honored in his absence for his unwavering
fight for justice. The evening was punctuated by the poignant
acknowledgement of another prominent lawyer, President Barack Obama,
who officially took office one month ago.
“Recently
people have been saying to me ‘Paul, it looks like you’re
glowing,’[and] I have been glowing because on Jan. 20, I was in
Washington, D.C.,” said Paul Howard, the four-term district attorney,
after receiving the Spirit of Justice Award. “I had a chance to see
President Barack Obama get sworn in. And I have been glowing ever since
that day. I have the greatest job in America because every day as
district attorney, one gets the opportunity to help people.”
Justice
Marvin Arrington added during his acceptance speech that the state’s
esteemed elders need to groom the next generation to take up the fight
for justice, lest we watch the obliteration of our hard-earned civil
rights gains. –terry shropshire
