Member News

North Carolina Central University School of Law proudly celebrates three outstanding alumni who will be recognized during the National Bar Association's 101st Annual Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. Preston D. Mitchum '11 – LGTBQ + Leadership Luminary Award Retired Judge Patrice A. Hinnant '76 – 2026 Fred D. Gray Hall of Fame Erin Darden '16 – 40 Under 40 These remarkable alumni exemplify the excellence, leadership, and service that define the NCCU School of Law community. We're proud to celebrate their achievements and the lasting impact they continue to make in the legal profession. Congratulations, Legal Eagles! #NCCULaw #EaglePride #NationalBarAssociation #LegalExcellence [...]

In less than three months, our college bound young men and women of America will be entering their chosen college or university. Sadly, the portrait I have summed up in this post will be seen by most entering first year students. Those of us who have been blessed to become alumni from whatever college or university should be concerned about the continuing decline in the percentage of black males entering our colleges and universities. I read somewhere that this is a national problem, not just a black community problem. It is both. But especially those of us who have benefited [...]

Cheyenne opened The Chambers Law Office in 2026, after working as a Senior Trial Attorney within the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, DC. With over a decade of complex litigation experience in state and federal court, Cheyenne practices appellate, civil rights, criminal defense, and estate planning law.  Cheyenne’s civil rights practice includes constitutional law, education rights, employment discrimination, and police misconduct. Cheyenne has been mentioned by The Charlotte Observer twice as a potential judicial nominee to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina (2022 and 2023).  Cheyenne also has been selected by her peers as a Rising Star in civil rights in [...]

As part of NCABL’s Off the Record Series, which will now feature NCABL members serving in elected office, we are proud to highlight Stormie Forte, Mayor Pro Tem of the Raleigh City Council. A Raleigh native, Council Member Forte brings a dynamic blend of legal, governmental, and community-based experience to her leadership. She earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University School of Law. She is a licensed attorney in North Carolina and in federal courts across the state, as well as a [...]

Dear NCABL Members,    I am pleased to share that I recently had the honor of representing the North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers (NCABL) at the 2026 Judicial Conference of the Dominican Republic, hosted in collaboration with the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) in Santo Domingo. This conference was not simply a convening, but a major international forum centered on advancing what the Dominican Republic has identified as its “Justice of the Future” initiative a comprehensive effort to modernize the judiciary, strengthen institutional accountability, and accelerate transformation across court systems. Held from April 9 through April 11, 2026, the [...]

The North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers extends its sincere appreciation to all who participated in and supported the Peter H. Bell Commemoration, a meaningful tribute to a legal pioneer whose legacy continues to shape our profession. We offer special thanks to our member Attorney James E. Williams Jr. for his leadership vision and dedication in organizing this impactful program. We also extend our deep gratitude to The Honorable Regina Parker, Superior Court Judge of the Second Judicial District for her powerful and inspiring remarks. We were especially honored to hear from Attorney Charlene Richardson, granddaughter of Peter H. Bell, [...]

Written By Irving Joyner The April 29, 2026, decision by the US Supreme Court in Louisiana v. Callais has added a fatal nail in the coffin of the 1965 Voting Rights Act (VRA). In that 6-3 decision, authored by Samuel Alito, the Court determined that the addition of a majority-minority congressional District in that state was not supported by evidence that its enactment resulted from intentional racial animus by that State’s Legislature. The Louisiana Legislature’s action was in response to a prior determination by the Federal District Court that the failure to add a second majority-minority district within the State was [...]