Our Mission
The mission of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers is to
- Promote and support the professional development of Black lawyers, judges, and law students in Minnesota;
- Address the legal issues affecting the Black community in Minnesota; and
- Advance education, excellence, and racial equity in the pursuit of justice.
Amended on February 26, 2018
MABL Founders
MABL was founded in September 1995 by a group of African American lawyers who believed in the principles of the National Bar Association and wanted to extend those principles by establishing a local chapter of the NBA in Minnesota.
Our Legacy
MABL was founded in September 1995. During its relatively short but storied history, MABL members have served in several legal capacities ranging from service on the Minnesota Supreme Court, Chief Judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals, Chief Judge of the Hennepin County Family Court, federal and state court judges, administrative law judges, magistrates, referees, federal, state, county, and city prosecutors and U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota.
MABL members are also well represented throughout Minnesota in private practice, with some members comprising the largest minority-controlled law firm in the Midwest. Members of the organization have been honored as "Up and Coming" attorneys in Minnesota by Minnesota's leading periodical devoted exclusively to lawyers; others have been identified as "Super Lawyers" and "Rising Stars" by other leading publications, as well. In addition, various judges have been recognized for their judicial expertise, their commitment and dedication to service, among other things.
The continuing need to address issues encountered by Black attorneys, other attorneys of color, and minority communities does not disappear. Accordingly, included among the many purposes of MABL are the steadfast convictions of promoting and supporting the professional development of Black lawyers in Minnesota, the education of Black students desiring to enter the legal profession, and the education of Black citizens regarding issues pertaining to the American judicial system.
MABL Bylaws
Article I. Membership
Section 1.1. Classes of Membership.
There shall be three classes of membership in the Association: Regular, Associate, and Student. Regular Membership is available to any attorney who is admitted to practice and is in good standing before the bar of the highest court of any state. Associate membership is available to any individual who is not otherwise eligible for regular or student membership. Student membership is available to any individual enrolled in an accredited law school.
Section 1.2. Participation and Voting.
Regular, associate, and student members of the Association are eligible to participate in all meetings and activities of the Association without regard to class of membership; however, only regular members are eligible to vote in any election of officers and at-large directors of the Association, or on amendments to the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Association.
Section 1.3. Application for Membership.
Each member shall, as a condition of membership in the Association, complete an application for membership and pay annual dues to the Association.
Section 1.4. Annual Dues. The annual dues of the Association shall be $125 ($95 for attorneys employed in the public sector) for regular membership, and $75 for associate membership. However, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion, reduce the annual dues payment for any attorney applying for regular membership who is employed by a legal services agency, or for any attorney for whom payment of annual dues for regular membership would be a financial hardship.
Annual student membership dues are $25. The Board of Directors recognizes the importance of student participation and membership. Therefore, the Board of Directors may, at its discretion, reduce or make free the annual dues payment for student members. The Board of Directors will determine the status of student membership at the beginning of each bar year (i.e., on or before July 1st of each year).
Article II. Board of Directors
Section 2.1. Composition of the Board.
The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Immediate Past President, five other members elected at large by the Association at its annual meeting, and student members selected as provided in Section 4.3, infra.
Section 2.2. Meetings.
The Board of Directors shall meet regularly, and not less than six times each year, at a time and place designated by the President. A special meeting of the Board of Directors may be called by the President, or by written request of three directors.
Section 2.3. Quorum.
The presence of at least five directors at a meeting of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.
Section 2.4. Written Action.
The Board of Directors may act by written action taken in accordance with Section 7.2 of the Articles of Incorporation.
Section 2.5. Student Directors.
Student directors shall not vote, but shall be otherwise eligible to participate in Board of Director meetings.
Article III. Officers
Section 3.1 President. The President shall be the presiding officer of the Association and its Board of Directors; shall be responsible for the implementation of the policy and actions of the Association and the Board; and shall be the public representative and spokesperson of the Association. At the annual meeting of the Association, the President shall present a written report on the progress of the mission and work of the Association during his/her term of office.
Section 3.2. Vice-President. The Vice-President shall assist the President in the execution of his/her duties; shall be the presiding officer at meetings in the absence of the President; and shall perform such other duties as may be directed by the Board of Directors.
Section 3.3. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the Association and of the Board of Directors, including minutes of their meetings. The Secretary shall keep and maintain the correspondence of the Association and of its officers; shall keep and maintain a full and accurate roster of, and necessary records pertaining to, membership of the Association; shall notify the officers, directors and members of the Association of their respective meetings; and perform such other duties as may be directed by the Board of Directors.
Section 3.4. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the custody of all funds of the Association, including dues collected from its members; shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Association; shall cause all funds to be deposited and shall keep detailed accounts, records, bills, and receipts in accordance with applicable law and with the directives of and in a manner authorized by the Board of Directors; shall disburse the funds of the Association as may be ordered by its Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements; and shall render to the Association on an annual basis, or otherwise when its membership or Board of Directors so requires, an account of all his/her transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Association.
Section 3.5 Immediate Past President. The Immediate Past President shall assist the President in transition activities to ensure a smooth and continuous operation of the Association; and shall perform such other duties as may be directed by the Board of Directors.
Article IV. Elections and Terms of Office
Section 4.1. Elections. At its annual meeting, the membership of the Association shall elect its officers, and shall elect at-large directors for positions with expiring terms on the Board of Directors.
Section 4.2. Nominations. At least thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting of the Association, the Nominations and Elections Committee shall meet and select one or more candidates for each officer position, and one or more candidates for each at-large position with an expiring term on the Board of Directors. The candidates selected by the committee shall be reported in the notice of meeting sent to members of the Association as provided in Section 6.2, infra. Additional nominations for any position of officer or at-large director may be received from the floor during the annual meeting. No person shall be nominated or elected as an officer or at-large director unless he/she has qualified for membership in the Association, pursuant to Section 1.3, supra, at the time notice has been sent to members of the Association pursuant to Section 6.2, infra.
Section 4.3. Student Director Selection. The Board of Directors shall select one student from each of the accredited Minnesota law schools to serve as non-voting student directors. Nominees for student director positions shall be submitted by the President, after consultation with representatives of the Black Law Student Associations of the law schools. In order to qualify for office, each student director must be a student member of the Association and enrolled in good standing at an accredited Minnesota law school during the fiscal year in which he/she will serve.
Section 4.4. Terms of Office. The officers and at-large directors elected at the annual meeting shall take office on July 1.
Section 4.4.1. Officers. Each officer shall hold office for a term of one year, or until his/her successor is duly elected and qualified.
Section 4.4.2. At-Large Directors. The five at-large director positions shall be divided into two classes such that the terms of at least two at-large directors shall expire each year. Each at-large director shall hold office for a term of two years, or until his/her successor is duly elected and qualified.
Section 4.4.3. Student Directors. Each student director shall hold office for a term of one year, or until his/her successor is duly selected and qualified.
Article V. Vacancies
Section 5.1. Declaration. Upon the resignation, removal, death, or disability of an officer or director, not including the Immediate Past President, the President (or in his/her absence, the Vice-President) shall declare the office vacant, and shall cause a written notice of the vacancy to be sent to the membership of the Association within thirty (30) days. An office shall be declared vacant if an officer, at-large director, or student director is absent for four regular meetings of the board of directors within a single fiscal year. After the third absence, the President or Secretary shall notify the absent officer or director in writing that his/her office will be declared vacant after the fourth absence.
Section 5.2. Election of Successor. If the office of President becomes vacant, the Vice-President shall succeed to the office. When a vacancy has been declared in the office of any other officer or a director, a successor shall be elected by the Board of Directors at its next meeting following the written notice of vacancy; however, if an annual meeting of the Association has intervened, the members attending the annual meeting shall elect the successor if the term of the vacant office has not otherwise expired. The newly-elected officer or director shall perform his/her duties until the predecessor's term expires.
Section 5.3. Removal. An officer or director may be removed from office for malfeasance or gross neglect in performing his/her duties, or for professional misconduct. Notice of intent to remove shall be served on the officer or director upon concurrence of five directors at a meeting of the Board of Directors. However, no officer or director may be removed except upon a vote of a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the members of a meeting of the Association held no earlier than ten (10) days following service of the notice of intent to remove.
Article VI. Membership Meetings
Section 6.1. Meetings. The membership of the Association shall meet at least once a year during the last quarter (April 1 through June 30) of the fiscal year for purposes of receiving the annual report of the President, and of electing officers and directors for the next fiscal year. Other membership meetings may be held at such time and place as may be called by the President, by the Board of Directors, or by petition of twenty-five percent (25%) of the regular membership of the Association.
Section 6.2. Notice. Written notice of a membership meeting shall be sent to all members at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting; however, notice of the annual meeting shall be sent at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the meeting. Notice of membership meetings shall be sent by first class mail, facsimile or electronic mail, and shall state the date, time, place and purpose of the meeting.
Section 6.3. Quorum. The presence of at least twenty percent (20%) of the regular membership of the Association at a membership meeting shall constitute a quorum.
Section 6.4. Presiding Officer. At all meetings of the Association, the President shall preside, or in his/her absence, an officer or director in the following order of preference: the Vice-President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, or the director most senior by age present at the meeting.
Article VII. Fiscal Year
Section 7.1. Fiscal year. The fiscal year of the Association shall commence on July 1 and end on June 30.
Section 7.2. Payment of Dues. Annual dues shall be due and payable on July 1 of each fiscal year. The Board of Directors may strike from the roster of membership any member who shall not have paid his/her dues by October 31 of the fiscal year. The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, pro rate the amount of dues payable by a new member who applies for regular membership after January 1 of a fiscal year.
Article VIII. Committees
Section 8.1. Standing Committees. There shall be established the following standing committees: Nominations and Elections Committee, Finance Committee, and Membership Committee.
Section 8.1.1. Nominations and Elections. The Nominations and Elections Committee shall nominate members for election, in the manner provided in these Bylaws, as officers and directors of the Association; and shall conduct and certify the elections of officers and directors.
Section 8.1.2. Finance. The Finance Committee shall assist the Treasurer in financial planning and reporting, including the preparation of annual budgets and financial reports. The Finance Committee shall also develop and coordinate Association fundraising strategies and activities.
Section 8.1.3. Membership. The Membership Committee shall develop policies and programs designed to increase the membership of the Association, including marketing strategies for the Association.
Section 8.2. Other Committees and Duties. The Board of Directors may establish such other committees, or designate additional duties for standing committees, as are necessary and proper to achieve the mission and work of the Association, and to otherwise assist the Board of Directors in discharging its duties.
Section 8.3. Appointment. The President, with the consent of the Board of Directors, shall appoint a chair and members of each committee.
Article IX. Rules
Section 9.1. Governing Rules. All meetings of the Association, its Board of Directors, and its committees shall be governed by, in the following order of priority: the laws of the United States and the State of Minnesota, the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws, other rules of proceedings adopted by the Association and the Board of Directors, and Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised.
Section 9.2. Voting. Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, items of action shall be decided by a majority vote of the members present at a meeting. The presiding officer or committee chair shall be permitted to vote on any question. Votes by proxy shall not be accepted.
Article X. Amendment
Section 10.1. Amendments to Bylaws. These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, and new Bylaws may be adopted, in whole or in part, by a sixty percent (60%) majority of the regular members present at a meeting of the Association; however, notice of a proposal to alter, amend, repeal a Bylaw, or to adopt a new Bylaw, must be sent to the membership at least ten (10) days prior to such meeting.
Adopted this 18th day of July, 1995
/s/ Jerry W. Blackwell
President
Attest:
/s/ Charles H. Williams, Jr.
Secretary
Notes:
1. The bylaws were ratified by the MABL membership on October 20, 1995 after Section 1.4 was amended to provide for reduced dues for regular members employed in the public sector.
2. On September 18, 1997, Sections 2.1, 4.3, and 4.4.3 were amended, and Section 2.5 was added, to provide for the selection of non-voting student directors from the Minnesota law schools.
3. On January 25, 2001, Section 4.2 was amended by adding a fourth sentence requiring officer and director candidates to qualify as dues-paying members of the Association. Also on that date, Section 5.1 was amended by adding a second sentence providing for automatic declaration of a vacancy when an officer or director has been absent from four regular board meetings. Also on that date, Section 6.2 was amended to provide for notice of meetings by electronic mail.
4. On June 29, 2006, Section 1.3 was amended to eliminate the requirement that all members complete a membership application every year. Also on that date, Section 6.3 was amended to change the requirement for a quorum from 25% to 20%. Also on that date, Article VIII was amended to eliminate three standing committees.
5. On June 15, 2017, Sections 2.1 and 5.1 were amended, and Section 3.5 was added, to provide for the inclusion of an Immediate Past President as a member of the Board of Directors.
6. On June 24, 2021, Section 1.4 was amended to allow the Board of Directors discretion to make student membership free.
MABL's Board of Directors
Uzodima Frank Aba-Onu
President
Mr. Aba-Onu is Legal Counsel for Prime Therapeutics. As Legal Counsel, Mr. Aba-Onu primarily collaborates with Prime’s Human Resources and Real Estate and Facilities teams as a subject matter specialist to assist with compliance, litigation concerns, related rules and regulations, and assuring a transparent and fair work-place environment.
Mr. Aba-Onu graduated cum laude from the University of St. Thomas School of Law, where he currently serves as an adjunct professor teaching employment law. He formerly served as an adjunct professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law and Hamline University. Mr. Aba-Onu is currently the President of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers. Mr. Aba-Onu is also an appointed member to the Committee for Equality and serves on the Board of Directors for the Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter, and St. Stephen’s Human Services.
Prior to joining Prime Therapeutics, Mr. Aba-Onu was a Shareholder at Bassford Remele. Prior to that, he was an Assistant Attorney General, gaining knowledge on mental health, licensing, and other health care-related matters, as well as the Minnesota Implied Consent Law.
Amran Farah
Immediate Past President
Amran Farah is an attorney at Greene Espel in downtown Minneapolis. Amran is an experienced litigator who has a tenacious knack for identifying creative solutions to complex problems.Amran represents and advises clients in an array of subjects, including complex commercial litigation, construction litigation, employment law, and internal investigations. Her construction practice involves the representation of property owners, general contractors, subcontractors, and community associations in claims for construction defect and property damage. Amran has litigated in state and federal court, as well as arbitration proceedings.
Before joining Greene Espel, Amran worked at an insurance defense firm providing legal services to clients in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota. After law school, Amran clerked for the Honorable Franklin L. Noel in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, and the Honorable Pamela G. Alexander in Hennepin County District Court.
Beyond her practice, Amran is the past-President of the Somali American Bar Association and the past-Chair of the Council of Minnesotans of African Heritage. Amran also serves on the board of B.R.A.V.E., a non-profit organization focused on the success of young East African girls.
Dana Mitchell
Vice President
Dana Mitchell is an attorney with more than twenty years of legal experience. Ms. Mitchell's legal experiences include working as an assistant county attorney, adjunct professor, and attorney for the Office of the Monitor, a landmark civil rights case involving Black farmers who sued USDA for discrimination. She earned her M.S.W. and J.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1996 and 1997, respectively. Ms. Mitchell is a former IV-D Bush Fellow. She has been a member of MABL since 1995. She is a volunteer, mentor, ardent proponent of representation, diversity and inclusion, and sponsor of people and ideas. Ms. Mitchell believes in the importance of kindness and service to others.
Abou Amara, Jr.
Treasurer
Abou B. Amara, Jr. is an Attorney with nearly a decade of experience in the legislative, public policy, and political arena prior to bar admission and entering private practice, including serving as a top advisor to the Minnesota Speaker of the House.
Prior to law school, Abou was named by Twin Cities Business Magazine as "100 Minnesotans to Know" as a "Shaper of the Future." During law school, Abou was a two-time National Moot Court individual champion, earning "Best Oralist" at the McGee National Moot Court Competition on Civil Rights and the Evans National Moot Court Competition on Constitutional Law.
Following law school, he practiced employment law at a well-respected twin cities law firm. He now is a Judicial Law Clerk on the Minnesota Supreme Court for the 2020-2021 term.
Amanda Matchett
Secretary
Amanda Matchett is Senior Counsel Commercial and Contracts for Anaplan. Amanda is a former vice chair of membership for the Iowa State University Young Alumni Council member, National Black Law Students Association National Secretary, and a North Star pro bono attorney. Amanda currently serves on the board of the Blueprint Campaigns and the Iowa State Alumni Association Board. Amanda likes to read, travel, go to concerts and Broadway musicals, loves sports, especially the NBA, and spending as much time with her nephews as she can.
Sara Jane Baldwin
At-Large Director
Sara Jane Baldwin is an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Duluth working in the civil division on civil litigation, employment law, and various other matters. Sara previously worked as a Hennepin County Public Defender and as a Staff Attorney at Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota. She also clerked for the Honorable Leslie E. Beiers in the Sixth Judicial District.
Sara is currently a member of the Sixth Judicial District Equal Justice Committee and the City of Duluth Equity Action Team. She serves on the Minnesota Judges Criminal Benchbook Committee and is a co-author of the Benchbook’s chapter on Driving While Impaired.
Prior to entering law practice, Sara worked as a general manager in the Broadway entertainment industry where she worked mostly on the management and production of Broadway national tours. Sara is a graduate of Macalester College with a BA in Music and received her JD from Georgetown University Law Center.
Kristien Butler
At-Large Director
Born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas, Kristien has called Minnesota his second home for the past twenty years now. Originally coming here to further his education at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, he ended up falling in love with the State—despite its winters—and stayed to attend law school at William Mitchell College of Law in Saint Paul, now Mitchell Hamline School of Law.
Considering himself a lifelong public servant, Kristien proudly serves the City of Saint Paul as its Director of the Department of Human Rights & Equal Economic Opportunity (HREEO, pronounced as “hero”). Having just joined the Department in February of 2021, prior to that, he served the indigent residents of Hennepin County as an Assistant Public Defender for just shy of a decade, where his litigation practice ranged from the defense of petty misdemeanor offenses to homicide. After the atrocity that was the murder of George Floyd, Kristien realized he needed to serve his community in an even more impactful way than he was able to as a Public Defender, thus why he joined the ranks of HREEO. Finally, before becoming a Public Defender, Kristien served the Minneapolis Public School District as an Associate with its former Office of Equity & Diversity. He was also a founding member of the Minnesota Judicial Branch’s Committee for Equality & Justice, having served the State in this capacity for seven years.
Being a member of more than one protected legal class himself, Kristien wholeheartedly believes in the just and fair rule of law and the protection of the rights of all, no matter their background. It is with this mission in mind that he sought to continue serving his community by joining the distinguished Board of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers. He is thrilled to be working with all the other Board members to continue bringing about true equity change for the future of the Black lawyers of Minnesota.
Amanda Harrington
At-Large Director
Amanda Harrington is an Assistant Hennepin County Attorney in the Child Protection Division and Program Manager of the be@school program, the county’s educational neglect and truancy program. Amanda obtained her law degree in 2019 from the University of St. Thomas School of Law. She began as an attorney with the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office after graduation.
Amanda has spent her entire career focused on improving the lives of children. She has extensive experience in the fields of education and social work. Amanda has a master’s degree in Social Work and is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in addition to holding a law degree. She spent 10 years with Minneapolis Public Schools as a school social worker and social work mentor. In addition, Amanda has worked in the area of children’s mental health as a therapeutic preschool teacher, consultant, school based mental health provider, and play therapist. She has worked for a number of community agencies.
Pharaoh Lewis
At-Large Director
Pharaoh Lewis is an attorney at Nilan Johnson Lewis in Minneapolis, with a practice in products/business litigation and transactional matters. Clients have benefited from Pharaoh's negotiation and communication skills, which he honed as a judicial law clerk and extern for Hennepin County District Courts. As a legal intern working for the Minnesota Timberwolves, he further sharpened his legal skills by drafting legal memoranda summarizing the NBA's collective bargaining agreement and uniform player contracts. Pharaoh also gained legal experience learning from corporate in-house counsel as an extern with Target Corporation's law department. Pharaoh received his B.S. and M.S. in Sports Management from Barry University. He went on to receive his J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law.
Pharaoh has been a MABL member since 2015. He fully believes in the mission and vision of MABL and will continue to assist MABL in giving back to the local Black community.
When he's not practicing law, Pharaoh is passionate about sports and cooking. He's a big NBA fan and still plays pickup basketball. His football loyalties lie with New Orleans, his hometown. Pharaoh is also an avid reader and fan of HBO's hit show The Wire.
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Jules Porter
At-Large Director
Jules Porter is a licensed attorney and the founder of Seraph 7 Studios, the first Black woman owned console video game development company. Her company features games with diverse heroes and story lines and a STE[A]M work-study program for local students. Jules earned a J.D. and MBA from the University of St. Thomas, a B.S. in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and a seminary theology degree. She is a United States Marine Corps veteran, and is committed to community empowerment and service. Jules is a frequent volunteer speaker at local schools where she speaks to students about various legal, government, business, and STE[A]M topics.
In her spare time, Jules cheers on the Minnesota Vikings, heads over to watch the Minnesota Orchestra, watches thriller and sci-fi movies, and reads books on astrobiology and world history.
Ryan Franklin
Student Director - Mitchell Hamline School of Law
Ryan is honored to be the Student Director on behalf of Mitchell Hamline School of Law for the MABL 2021-2022 bar year.
Ryan is a native of Chicago, IL. Ryan attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for undergraduate school, where she majored in Political Science, Gender and Women’s Studies, and Swahili. Her environment and experiences has ignited her passion for social justice. Ryan believes MABL provides her with an opportunity to converse and collaborate with like-minded individuals to create real change. As a Student Director, Ryan is excited to utilize her capabilities to increase opportunities provided to BIPOC students at MHSL through MABL.
Currently, Ryan is a 3L at MHSL. Long-term, she aspires to practice criminal defense, but is open to practicing any law that can lead to systematic progression.
Emanual Williams
Student Director - University of Minnesota School of Law
Emanual is currently a 2L at the University of Minnesota Law of School. Emanual has a deep passion for criminal justice reform and believes that every voice can and should be heard. Emanual spent his undergraduate career at Carleton College, earning a B.A. in Political Science with a focus on Democracy, Society, and the State. Currently, Emanual is involved with the Legal Rights Center, working under both the legal team and the community education/outreach program. Next summer, Emanual will work at the Attorney General's Office.
Kevin Green
Student Director - University of St. Thomas School of Law
Kevin Green is 2L at the University of St. Thomas Law and has had a childhood dream of becoming an attorney. Kevin wants to contribute to the inclusive nature of MABL. In the spaces and places I am in, Kevin believes that he can help engage and facilitate understanding, compassion, and reason to help move us to a collaborative community. As a veteran of the armed services, and a current member of the Minnesota Air National Guard, Kevin knows how to work with people across a myriad of differing backgrounds and perspectives and still get the job done. Kevin is a dedicated, loyal, hard-working person and would like to learn and grow from the great people that make up the MABL membership and also help those that come after him.