Join Bailey & Glasser, LLP in Celebrating Juneteenth Freedom Day 2024

Join Bailey & Glasser, LLP in celebrating Juneteenth Freedom Day 2024.

While the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 officially freed enslaved persons in the South, the proclamation could not realistically be enforced in any location where the Confederacy remained in control, including the westernmost state of Texas. It was not until Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Grange arrived in Galveston on June 19, 1865 – more than two months after the Confederate Army surrendered – that the state’s enslaved residents finally learned slavery had been abolished.

Join Bailey & Glasser, LLP in celebrating Juneteenth Freedom Day 2024.

While the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 officially freed enslaved persons in the South, the proclamation could not realistically be enforced in any location where the Confederacy remained in control, including the westernmost state of Texas. It was not until Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Grange arrived in Galveston on June 19, 1865 – more than two months after the Confederate Army surrendered – that the state’s enslaved residents finally learned slavery had been abolished.

For Black Americans, gaining the full rights of citizenship—and especially the right to vote—was central to securing true freedom and self-determination. “Slavery is not abolished until the Black man has the ballot,” Frederick Douglass famously said in May 1865. While the 15th Amendment passed in 1869 gave Black men the right to vote, they were still largely kept from voting due to literacy tests, poll taxes, and campaigns of violence designed to marginalize the Black vote across the South and thereby silence their voices in the political realm.

In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law, designed to remove barriers to political participation by racial and ethnic minorities, with Sections 2 and 5 being two provisions that brought new protections to voters across the country. Litigation over the scope and coverage under the Voting Rights Act hasn’t ceased since its passage, reflecting the ongoing strife and struggle over the fundamental ability to vote – a founding principle of this country.

In a Democracy Docket article, “Sounding the Alarm: The 8th Circuit’s Discordant Note on Voting Rights,” Martin Luther King III, leader of the organization Drum Major Institute, and Bailey Glasser lawyer Paul-Kalvin Collins draw attention to the 2023 ruling by the United States Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals that bar private litigants from bringing lawsuits under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, “the very bulwark against racial discrimination in voting.”

Earlier this year, the Eighth Circuit denied an appeal to review a previous three panel ruling finding that federal law does not allow private groups and individuals — who have for decades brought the majority of lawsuits under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act — to sue because that law does not explicitly name them. Only the head of the Justice Department, the panel found, can bring these kinds of lawsuits. This decision is the first of its kind, with other federal courts weighing in on this issue, including the U.S. Supreme Court, opposing this decision or favoriting private plaintiffs in Section 2 cases.

The article warns of the ruling’s impact on the safeguards of voting rights and the “potential reverberations through the foundations of our democracy.” To read the full article visit here.

The nonprofit Drum Major Institute, first founded by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1961, continues his fight for justice and equality. “Together, as drum majors for justice, we can ensure that the dream of Dr. King endures, and the Voting Rights Act remains a potent instrument in the pursuit of a more equitable and inclusive America.” Learn more about DMI here.

For more information on lawyer Paul-Kalvin Collins, visit here.

#Juneteenth #FreedomDay #Diversity

Partner Jackalyn Olinger Rochelle Named 2024 LCLD Fellow

Bailey & Glasser, LLP is excited to announce that partner Jackalyn Olinger Rochelle has been named a 2024 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellow. The year-long Fellows Program positions distinguished attorneys from diverse backgrounds for leadership positions within legal organizations through relationship building and executive coaching. Learn more about the LCLD Fellows Program here.

Ms. Rochelle is a litigator with over 17 years of experience and leadership representing individuals and families affected by asbestos-related diseases, catastrophic injuries or deaths, and defective products. She is equally dedicated to community advocacy and volunteers with various organizations to help protect the civil justice system and the vulnerable.

“The LCLD program supports Fellows Program participants to ascend and excel in positions of leadership within the legal profession to increase inclusiveness at all levels,” Ms. Rochelle said. “I am excited to connect with and learn from like-minded diverse professionals and am looking forward to bringing these resources back to Bailey Glasser.”

Read the full announcement here.

#LCLD #Diversity #DEI #BaileyGlasser

Panida Anderson Moderates Virtual Panel: “How to Find a Lawyer,” on Friday, July 21, 2023

Bailey Glasser lawyer Panida Anderson, immediate past President of the Thai American Bar Association, Panida Anderson will moderate a virtual panel called “How to Find a Lawyer,” hosted in collaboration with the Thai Embassy, the Thai American Bar Association, the Thai Community Development Center, and the Thai American Samakkee Coalition.

This webinar will be hosted in the Thai language and will focus on how to research and find an attorney. The virtual event will be held on Friday, July 21, 2023 at 3pm EST, featuring immigration attorneys Phatchara Udomsin and Tammy Sumontha. For more information, click here.

Happy Pride Month from BG

Happy Pride Month 2023 from our diverse community here at Bailey & Glasser, LLP.

“During Pride Month, we honor a movement that has grown stronger, more vibrant, and more inclusive with every passing year,” reads President Biden’s 2023 Presidential Proclamation. “Pride is a celebration of generations of LGBTQI+ people who have fought bravely to live openly and authentically. And it is a reminder that we still have generational work to do to ensure that everyone enjoys the full promise of equity, dignity, protection, and freedom.” For the full statement from President Biden, visit here.

Pride Month is currently celebrated in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City, where gay citizens fought back against the police who raided the Stonewall Inn. The police hauled employees and patrons from the bar, and the patrons and neighborhood residents fought back, resulting in six days of protests and violent clashes with law enforcement. The Stonewall Riots served as a catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world.

According to the Library of Congress, Pride Month “celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBTQ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.” For more information, visit here.

Throughout June, we’ll reflect on pivotal milestones in the struggle for LGBTQ+ equality. Tenacity, strength, and yes – pride – continues to be very necessary in these times. Pride Month is an important reminder of the sacrifices and courage of many LGBTQ+ trailblazers to the cause of equality and provides an occasion to reflect on their invaluable contributions to creating a more inclusive and just society for us all. #PrideMonth2023 #equality #loveislove #saygay

Congratulations to our 2023 LCLD Pathfinder – Panida Anderson

Bailey & Glasser, LLP would like to congratulate attorney Panida Anderson on being named a 2023 Leadership Council for Legal Diversity (LCLD) Pathfinder. Ms. Anderson practices consumer protection, class action, and employment litigation with a particular focus on representing consumers in class actions under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). She is also the immediate past President of the National Thai American Bar Association (TABA), which facilitates the professional development of its members and increases access to legal services for the greater Thai community.

LCLD is an organization made up of more than 400 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners, who have pledged themselves to create a truly diverse U.S. legal profession. LCLD’s programs are designed to “attract, inspire, and nurture” talent and promote inclusiveness within these organizations and in the participants’ circles of influence, thereby creating a new and more diverse generation of attorneys.

The Pathfinder Program is designed for diverse, high-potential, early-career attorneys at LCLD Member organizations. As a Pathfinder, Ms. Anderson will gain practical tools for developing and leveraging internal professional networks, leadership skills, and career development strategies specific to law firm practice.

“The LCLD program encourages Pathfinders to embrace our diversity and show up as our full selves.” Ms. Anderson said. “It teaches communication skills so that we can be better advocates and team players. Being able to network and become friends with like-minded diverse professionals is invaluable, and I appreciate Bailey Glasser for nominating me to be this year’s Pathfinder.”

After completing the seven-month program, Ms. Anderson will join fellow Bailey Glasser attorneys Jade Smith-Williams and Britney Littles as LCLD Alumni Program members.

Bailey Glasser became an LCLD member firm in 2022, with founding partner Benjamin Bailey as LCLD “Leader at the Front” and partner Cary Joshi as 2022 LCLD Fellow.

Learn more about the LCLD Pathfinder Program here.

BG Video Celebration of Women’s History Month 2023

“Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another. We’re strongest when we cheer each other on.” Serena Williams.

Here at Bailey Glasser, we’re committed to shining a light on the amazing contributions of women and throughout March, we’ve highlighted a selection of women in history who create, inspire, empower, and make positive change in this world; not just this month, but every month. To wrap up this year’s celebration, we’ve created a celebratory video that includes remarkable women recognized during both Women’s History Month and Black History Month, as well as favorite inspirational quotes from some of the fearless women here at Bailey Glasser.

Embracing Equity on International Women’s Day 2023

Today is International Women’s Day, a commemoration that first began in 1911, and is a global celebration recognizing the achievements made by women across the world, acknowledging the work that must still be done to continue advancing equality and equity forward. This year’s theme is “Embrace Equity.” Have you ever thought about how equity is actually different than equality? Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities. While equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and needs, and allocates the right resources and exact opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome. It is a concept acknowledging our common goal of being recognized and included, and as articulated by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg: “We will all profit from a more diverse, inclusive society, understanding, accommodating, even celebrating our differences, while pulling together for the common good.”

To learn more about International Women’s Day and this year’s theme about Embracing Equity, please visit here.

Honoring Black History Month

Every February, Bailey Glasser honors Black History Month. As part of our commemoration, we post all month long across our social media channels a selection of Black Americans who made impactful contributions in all the states where our law firm have offices. Please enjoy this short video that highlight’s this year’s social media posts for this important month.

As noted at the end of this video: ”Won’t it be wonderful when Black history and Native American history and Jewish history and all of U.S. history is taught from one book. Just U.S. history.” Maya Angelou

BG’s 2022 In Review

Passionately practicing law while doing good work for our clients and communities is at the heart of what we do here at BG.

In our “2022 In Review” newsletter, we highlight the work we’ve done for our valued clients (including a sneak peek of a couple of early 2023 successes), introduce our new partners and associates, and spotlight our pro bono work and diversity initiatives. Thank you for taking just a few moments to flip through its pages – we hope you enjoy it.

Click on the link here to open the newsletter in a beautiful magazine-style flippable format.

Bailey Glasser Lends A Helping Hand To A DC Entrepreneur

Congratulations to DC entrepreneur Skyler Kelley for securing lease rights to open a new Brij Coffeehouse kiosk at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Drawing upon her lived experience as an unhoused single mother, Skyler’s vision includes reinvesting a portion of Brij’s earnings in the community through nonprofits that help neighbors in need. Skyler is passionate about eradicating homelessness and bridging gaps among D.C.’s diverse community. Bailey Glasser attorneys Kurt Gleeson, Michael Murphy, Lorren Patterson, and Greg Payton were delighted to work with Skyler on a pro bono basis to secure the lease and handle several corporate organizational matters for her company.

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