The Macon B. Allen Black Bar Association proudly honored Guyana-born Andrea S. Ogle Esq. in celebration of “African-American” Heritage, and 400 years of the African-American History Commission Act, at the Queens Theatre, Flushing Meadows, Corona Park.
The Feb. 28 commemoration acknowledged Ogle, who was admitted to practice law in the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and the state courts of New Jersey and New York.
Ogle, who successfully managed her own law practice in Queens County for more than 20 years, is a member of the Attorneys for Children and 18b Assigned Counsel Panels. She has represented indigent adults and children in Family and Supreme Court proceedings since 1999.
“It is truly an honor and a privilege being recognized at the Queens Country Board, Macon B. Allen Black Bar Association Black History Month program,” said Ogle, adding, it was a great tribute for the work she has done for more than 20 years.
“This helps me to become more visual to not only the community and jurists, but the people who select judges for the bench, because diversity is very important,” said the attorney, who serves as a mentor and has prepared various programs in conjunction with the NYC Department of Probation, Queens Engagement Strategies for Teens, and the Interfaith Council for Community.
“We don’t have a lot of judges that are of minority, ethnic origin so it’s important that the bench looks as it represents,” said Ogle.
“I am hoping to become a judge, sooner rather that later, and this is part of the process for an opportunity to be elected to the bench,” said Ogle, who does not want to limit herself to working in Queens where she resides, but the city of New York judiciary.
Ogle, who has written on issues including the 13thAmendment, bail representation of the indigent, and has organized Continuing Legal Education Seminars for attorneys on various topics, including the new “Raise the Age” legislation, would be honored by Councilmember I. Daneek Miller during this Women’s History Month.
Congressman Gregory Meeks’ United for Progress Democrat Club, will also acknowledge Ogle, for her fervent public service. She believes that everyone is responsible for the well being of youth.
Other honorees are, President of New York City ABOTA, Walters-Hinds, who has been names to Super Lawyers, Rising Star for excellence in practice. She has published best practices articles in the New York Law Journal and New York Star Bar Association’s “One on One.”
Fearonce Gerard LA Lande, Esq. serves on the board of directors of several community-based organizations including Social Concern Committee of Springfield Gardens and Granville T. Woods Association, and is a former board member of the Queens Legal Services.
Hon. Marguerite A. Grays was elected judge of the New York City Civil Court, Queens County in 2000. She was then elected to the New York State Supreme Court, Queens County, where she presently sits. She is the chairperson of the Judicial Committee on Women in the Courts of the Queens Supreme Count, Civil Term, and president of the NY Chapter of the National Association of Women Judges.
Currently the managing partner of Hopkins Law Group, formally Hopkins Lawrence and Bailey P.C., Everett Hopkins, Esq., she has served thousands of clients (inclusive of three generations) within his community. In the past she has represented corporations from New York to the West Coast of Africa, assisting in the development, of a 35 million-dollar pharmaceutical plant in Ghana, Africa to produce HIV antiviral medicine in West Africa.
The collaborative efforts of the Queen’s Women’s Bar Association, The Brandeis Bar Association, the Queens Country Bar Association and the Caribbean Attorney’s Network, also honored Alecia Walters-Hinds, Esq. an accomplished attorney who began her career at the NYC Law Department Corporation Counsel. She has tried more than 100 cases and taken over 50 verdicts.
Guest speaker Professor Gloria Browne-Marshall, a syndicated columnist and legal commentator who covers the U.S Supreme Court and major cases, and chair of the ASALH’s 400th Commemoration Committee, recalled the African slave trade and its relevance in today’s society, in her “speak truth to power” engaging presentation.
Rohan Narine, on behalf of Mayor of the City of New York ,Bill deBlasio, presented a certificate to the organizations.
Congressman Gregory Meeks while congratulating honorees said, “we are the fabric of what this country is all about. This country would not be where it is, was it not for individuals, who were brought here in chains from Africa. It is not only just African-American history, it’s American history,” he opined.
A reception with entertainment by the Claudette Morgan Jazz Band and renditions of the National Anthem of the United States and Black National Anthem, little Cydnee Alexa Buggs, as well as a stirring performance by the Devore Dance Studio, celebrated lawyers and judges.
Others included Queens County Women’s Bar Association, President, Adrian Williams, Esq., Caribbean Attorneys Network President, Sheryl Fyffe, Esq., Macon B. Allen Black Bar Association, President, Jawan Finley, Esq., President Queens County Bar Association, Marie Elena First, who issued a vote of thanks, and Recording Secretary, Macon B. Allen Black Br Association, Tawanna St. Louis, Esq., rendered the invocation.
