law Archives - Rolling Out

A judge in Houston could face jail time for allegedly shooting at her husband’s lover. The incident occurred on Aug. 11, according to the Houston Chronicle. Judge Alexandra Smoots-Thomas, who served as a Harris County civil judge, confronted a woman at her home. The two got into an argument before things turned violent. Smoots-Thomas allegedly…

Joyette Holmes will serve as the district attorney for the case involving the brutal murder of Ahmaud Arbery. On Monday, May 11, 2020, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr named Holmes, the Cobb County district attorney, to serve as special prosecutor in the high-profile case. Here are the five things to know about Holmes. A Native…

Former U.S. Rep. John Conyers has passed away at age 90. The legendary congressman had a career in politics that lasted over 50 years, making him the longest Black person to serve in the U.S. Congress. A native of Detroit, Conyers worked to establish a national holiday for Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Conyers introduced…

L. Chris Stewart is a managing partner and CEO of Stewart Trial Attorneys, a personal injury litigation law firm. Stewart handles a variety of cases, including wrongful death, civil rights, shootings and sexual assaults. He is a graduate of Xavier University, where he earned his undergraduate degree; Tulane University, where he earned a Master of…

As District Attorney for the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit, Sherry Boston oversees the prosecution of felony offenses in DeKalb County. Prior to serving in this capacity, Boston was elected DeKalb County Solicitor-General, where she was responsible for overseeing the prosecution of more than 12,000 misdemeanor crimes, ranging from domestic violence to trespassing and animal cruelty.…

Attorney Shequel Ross is a force to be reckoned with, having overcome unimaginable obstacles to practice law. After earning her law degree from Western Michigan University’s Thomas Cooley Law School, Ross almost had her dreams of law practice ripped away. She and 89 fellow law students were incorrectly told that they failed the Georgia Bar…

Jabari A. Jones has practiced criminal defense and personal injury law for the past seven years and is based in Decatur, Georgia. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia and the David A. Clarke School of Law in Washington, D.C. Jones has called the Atlanta area home for over 25 years and currently…

Lerae Funderburg is the founder and managing partner of Funderburg Law, a boutique law firm focusing on business and entertainment transactions and intellectual property protection. She works almost exclusively with Black business owners, especially mothers, in helping them to create their businesses, protect their brands, and build their legacy. What attracted you to the legal…

At the age of 12, Sheryl L. Burke experienced the criminal justice system as a victim. It was this experience that motivated her to become an attorney. Burke began her professional career as an insurance adjuster before deciding to enroll in law school at St. Louis University where she completed her Juris Doctorate degree. She…

Cassandra Kirk is the first chief magistrate judge in Fulton County appointed by the governor. She received her bachelor’s degree from Williams College and her J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law. Kirk has more than 25 years of legal experience as a jurist, prosecutor, defense attorney, civil litigator and administrative director. Through…

As the much anticipated Father’s Day approaches rolling out will highlight outstanding fathers in the community. Here’s one of our favorites. Gavin Logan is an attorney and a father with a wide variety of interests. Logan graduated from Brown University and Northeastern University School of Law. He is currently a Washington, D.C. based attorney specializing…

Have you ever wondered if you need to have a federally registered trademark to protect your brand? If you are a business owner or a brand, more than likely you do. A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol or design, or a combination of words, phrases, symbols or designs that identify and distinguish (“mark”) the…

Jussie Smollett’s problems continue to mount by the day. The “Empire” actor will now be investigated by the FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. According ABC News, the two federal agencies are investigating whether Smollett wrote the threatening letter that was sent to the “Empire” set on Jan. 22, seven days before the alleged attack. The…

Award-winning trial attorneys Dana and Keith Cutler are the first-ever married couple to preside over a television court show. The Cutlers use cell phone forensics, GPS tracking, DNA evidence and other high-tech tactics to tackle relationship disputes head-on and help uncover the truth. The husband-and-wife team, who have been married and practicing law together for…

A. Scott Bolden is the current Managing Partner of the Washington, D.C., office and former Member of the Executive Committee of Reed Smith, LLP. As a prominent trial and white-collar defense lawyer, Mr. Bolden handles some of the most high-profile matters in and outside of the nation’s capital and on the national stage. Mr. Bolden…

Alonzo Taylor, Jr., 14, wanted to celebrate 8th graduation with a group of friends by seeing the latest Avengers movie at the East Warren 20 theater in Wichita, Kansas. Taylor, who is Black, was with several White friends when they all attempted to see the movie, according to KAKE. However, Taylor was singled out by…

Bill Cosby could face 30 years in prison after being found guilty of three counts of indecent assault. The case revolved around a 2004 case in which Andrea Constand claimed that Cosby sexually assaulted her while at his home. Constand said that Cosby gave her pills that made her drowsy. At some point, Constand said Cosby…

Adrienne Lawrence of EA Sports gives advice to Black women in media and tech.

B. Lerae Funderburg, Esq. is the founder and managing partner of boutique law firm Funderburg Law, LLC. She specializes in entertainment and media transactions. A mother of two, Funderburg is a sister with superpowers who balances work and motherhood while always representing excellence, professionalism, integrity, and humility in every aspect of life. Here, she shares…

Ask any member of the African American community if they are familiar with the school to prison pipeline, and many will greet the question with affirmation. The Wolverine Bar Association in Detroit is working toward a solution, using their own version of a pipeline to impact the Black community. The end result is much more…