WINTER 2022 A CONFIDENT AND CAPTIVATING REGION THE CENTRAL SCENE
Lonita BAKER
80th President of the National Bar Association
Eta Omega Chapter , Louisville , KY
Long before she was nationally known for being the attorney for the family of Breonna Taylor , Lonita was a hometown hero , representing citizens of Louisville in both criminal and civil legal matters . Lonita has served as a Metro public defender , an assistant Jefferson County ( Kentucky ) attorney and a private practitioner .
Her extensive work in the community has earned her recognition by several organizations , including being named a Top 40 Under 40 Attorney by the National Bar Association , The National Black Trial Lawyers and by Louisville Business First . She was also named the Daniel Alvarez Champion for Justice by the Louisville Bar Association and is a Louisville
Urban League Justice Award recipient . Lonita also received the Wiley Branton and five presidential awards from the National Bar Association . These numerous awards are in recognition of the tireless work Lonita has engaged in , uplifting vulnerable members of our community . She also inspires other local black attorneys to mentor minority law students and give their time and talent to efforts to make Louisville a better , safer place for all .
Lonita is a force to be reckoned with ! She was the president of the Louisville Black Lawyers Association for many years , earning the moniker “ President for Life .” Under her leadership , the organization grew in numbers , established a scholarship dinner to fund scholarships for local students , and led the effort to change the organization ’ s name to the Charles W . Anderson , Jr . chapter of the National Bar Association . Lonita has served as the lead attorney for the Louisville Urban League Reily Re-entry Expungement Program and led the effort of many local attorneys as they worked to help restore voting rights .
In July 2022 , Lonita was installed as the 80th president of the National Bar Association . This organization was founded in 1925 and is the oldest and largest network of predominantly black legal community members . The NBA represents over 65,000 black attorneys , judges , law professors , and law students .
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