T.J. Reddick Bar Association

Broward's Black Bar Association

HISTORY & ABOUT US

On November 12, 1982, a group of social engineers formed the T.J. Reddick Bar Association because Blacks were not being afforded equal access into law firms as attorneys or partners, court appointments in civil or criminal cases, appointments to judgeships, or respect as attorneys in Broward County, Florida. The group included attorneys W.George Allen, Alcee L. Hastings, Benjamin F. Lampkin, Jr., Henry Latimer, Raleigh R. Rawls, James Brown, William Hutchinson, Jr., Judge Zebedee Wright, and of course, Thomas J. Reddick, Jr. The attorneys named the Association after T. J. Reddick, the first Black attorney to open an office and practice law in Broward County, the first Black appointed to the Broward County Court of Record and the first Black elected to serve as Circuit Court Judge in the State of Florida. Although Judge Reddick passed away in 1993, his legacy remains.

Today, the Association has broadened its purpose and is dedicated to promoting the professional excellence of Black lawyers in Broward County, increasing the enrollment of minority students in college and law school, and promoting the general welfare of all citizens in Broward County. The Association not only provides legal-advice clinics and collaborates with the NAACP Ft. Lauderdale Branch legal redress clinic, its members also mentor children who have cases pending in the dependency and delinquency court systems and minority law students attending local law schools. The Association also sponsors an annual toy drive, annually celebrates thanksgiving with the children of local child care centers, sponsors citizenship and voter registration drives, donates necessary items for the patrons of the Northwest Federated Women, Senior and Adult Daycare Center, conducts educational seminars for various community organizations and provides academic scholarships to students at local law schools (Henry Latimer Scholarship) and magnet high school pre-law programs (Raleigh Rawls Scholarship).

ABOUT THOMAS J. REDDICK, JR.

Judge Reddick received his bachelors degree from Florida A & M University and his juris doctorate from Howard University School of Law. He was the first Black attorney in Broward County. In 1962, he filed suit against the Florida Turnpike Authority and received a favorable verdict within 16 days, which resulted in the desegregation of the Turnpike’s restaurants and restroom facilities. He was appointed to the Broward County Court of Record in 1971 and elected to the Circuit Court in 1972, becoming the 1st Black Circuit Court Judge in the State of Florida.