Washington Bar Association
Encyclopedia
The Washington Bar Association is (WBA) is a voluntary bar association
located in the Washington, District of Columbia area, whose members are predominantly African-American attorneys.
The Washington Bar Association was founded in 1925 by a group of prominent African-American attorneys, including Charles Hamilton Houston
, George E.C. Hayes, and J. Franklin Wilson.
The WBA was created simultaneously with the National Bar Association
, and is an affiliate chapter of the NBA.
The WBA works to advance Houstonian jurisprudence, defined as “Social change through application of laws governing equal rights, due process, and other legal principles."
The organization serves to protect and advance the interests of its members and of all African-Americans as they navigate a social and judicial system in which disparate treatment of minorities continues to occur.
In 1975, the WBA established the tradition of awarding the Houston Medallion of Merit to individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to Charles Hamilton Houston
's ideals and jurisprudence. This award is presented at the WBA’s annual Law Day Gala.
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
located in the Washington, District of Columbia area, whose members are predominantly African-American attorneys.
The Washington Bar Association was founded in 1925 by a group of prominent African-American attorneys, including Charles Hamilton Houston
Charles Hamilton Houston
Charles Hamilton Houston was an African American lawyer, Dean of Howard University Law School and NAACP Litigation Director who played a significant role in dismantling the Jim Crow laws and trained future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.Houston was born in Washington, D.C. His father...
, George E.C. Hayes, and J. Franklin Wilson.
The WBA was created simultaneously with the National Bar Association
National Bar Association
The National Bar Association was established in 1925 as the "Negro Bar Association" after Gertrude Rush, George H. Woodson, S. Joe Brown, James B. Morris, and Charles P. Howard, Sr. were denied membership in the American Bar Association. It represents the interests of African-American attorneys in...
, and is an affiliate chapter of the NBA.
The WBA works to advance Houstonian jurisprudence, defined as “Social change through application of laws governing equal rights, due process, and other legal principles."
The organization serves to protect and advance the interests of its members and of all African-Americans as they navigate a social and judicial system in which disparate treatment of minorities continues to occur.
In 1975, the WBA established the tradition of awarding the Houston Medallion of Merit to individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to Charles Hamilton Houston
Charles Hamilton Houston
Charles Hamilton Houston was an African American lawyer, Dean of Howard University Law School and NAACP Litigation Director who played a significant role in dismantling the Jim Crow laws and trained future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.Houston was born in Washington, D.C. His father...
's ideals and jurisprudence. This award is presented at the WBA’s annual Law Day Gala.