06/09/2026
In 2018, I tried my first solo jury trial, and it was a major trial in Erie County, Pennsylvania.
I remember being more nervous about my natural hair and purple lipstick than I was about standing up in court. I worried that jurors would see me as “ghetto,” unprofessional, or not serious enough, especially as the only Black professional sitting at counsel table with four Black co-defendants.
Looking back, I realize I was carrying the weight of other people’s assumptions.
Fast forward to 2026.
Now I know that my competence speaks before I do. Whether my hair is natural, straight, or braided. Whether my lipstick is n**e, red, or purple. The lawyers, judges, prosecutors, and clients I encounter know one thing:
I’m coming prepared.
I’m coming with purpose.
And I’m going to apply pressure.
Never shrink yourself to make other people comfortable. Excellence has a way of introducing itself.💋
Accepting new clients ‼️
