Business Law Section Weekly Newsletter
Special Edition - Black History Month
The Business Law Section is pleased to introduce our amazing new Section Administrator, Calbrail Banner. Calbrail comes to us with ten years’ experience with The Florida Bar. Calbrail was an immense help during our Winter Meetings in Orlando, and is in the process of learning more about our Section activities as she becomes acquainted with her new role. Please consider how you can assist in making Calbrail’s transition to our Section a great success for both the Section, and Calbrail.
Forward Movement- Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
On April 8, 2022, the day following Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation as the next justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (“Supreme Court”) she said:

And it is an honor — the honor of a lifetime — for me to have this chance to join the Court, to promote the rule of law at the highest level, and to do my part to carry our shared project of democracy and equal justice under law forward, into the future.

February 25, 2023 marks one year since President Joe Biden nominated Justice Jackson for the highest court in our country.

How Did We Get Here?

On April 7, 2022, Justice Jackson’s nomination was confirmed, with Vice President Kamala Harris presiding over the Senate confirmation vote. The significance of that alone should not be easily brushed aside.

On June 30, 2022, Justice Jackson took her judicial oath as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Justice Jackson then became the first Black woman Supreme Court Justice.

Justice Jackson was born in Washington, D.C. She grew up in Miami, FL and attended Miami Palmetto Senior High School. She attended and graduated from Harvard-Radcliffe College with her Bachelor’s Degree. She then enrolled in Harvard Law School and graduated with her juris doctor in 1996.
Honoring the Contributions of African American Scientists, Mathematicians, Inventors and Engineers
This article discusses a few of the many skilled African-American scientists, inventors and engineers whose inventions and achievements advanced scientific knowledge and improved our lives. Despite their extraordinary contributions to this country and to the world, their names remain hidden and largely unknown by most Americans. The continuing struggle of African-Americans in this country is to be seen as Americans and given proper credit for our accomplishments.

. . . So much of our energy is spent in overcoming the constricting environment in which we live that little energy is left for creating new ideas or things. Whenever, however, one breaks out of this rather high-walled prison of the “Negro problem” by virtue of some worthwhile contribution, not only is he himself allowed more freedom, but part of the wall crumbles. And so it should be the aim of every student in science to knock down at least one or two bricks of that wall by virtue of his own accomplishment.

Dr. Charles Richard Drew to Mrs. J.F. Bates, a Fort Worth, Texas schoolteacher, January 27, 1947

These scientists, citizens, inventors and their amazing achievements are a part of American history. Let us shine a light on the phenomenal achievements of these great Americans not only during Black History month, but all year round.
Fellows Program now accepting applications for class of 2023-2025

The Business Law Section Diversity Fellowship Program is designed to assist a diverse and inclusive group of lawyers in becoming better leaders within our profession and the Business Law Section, while enhancing their leadership skills, as an encouragement and commitment to attract young and diverse lawyers to join, participate and ultimately serve in leadership positions of the Business Law Section. The Business Law Section will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Fellowship Program with the incoming 2023 class. Applications are being accepted until April 1st. The Inclusion/Mentorship/Fellowship Committee will be sharing Fellow Spotlights to allow the Section to get to know our outstanding current fellows on a weekly basis leading up to the application deadline.

If you know a dynamic business law attorney, encourage them to apply here.
Looking to be published? We welcome submissions for the Business Law Section Blog and for the Florida Bar Journal.

For submission guidelines for the BLS Blog, please click here.

For submission guidelines and additional information for the Florida Bar Journal articles, please click here to visit the BLS CLE Committee page.