Jean-Pierre Francillette
President of The
Wiley Manuel Bar Association
May 2008
The Wiley W. Manuel Bar Association of Sacramento County (WMBA) was started as the Sacramento Association of Black Attorneys (SABA) in the fall of 1977. The name of the organization was changed in 1981 to honor the late Justice Wiley William Manuel, the first African-American appointed to the California Supreme Court. Four attorneys are credited with the organization’s initial creation: David Seals, Milton Armistead, Nathaniel Colley, and Joseph Russell. These four attorneys, along with thirteen others, held the first meeting of SABA. The seventeen individuals in attendance, listed below as they were addressed then, were: David Seals (President), Milton Armistead (Vice President), Harold Machen (Parliamentarian), Otis Benning, Clarence Brown, Timothy Chandler, Nathaniel Colley, Randolph Cooke, Joseph Cooper, Amos Freeman, L. Archie Harris, James Long, Gary Ransom, Vance Raye, Joseph Russell, Renard Shepard, and Herman Smith.
The bar association’s original purpose was “to provide an organized bar affiliation to represent the professional interests of the legal community in Sacramento, with special emphasis on Black attorneys; to promote the administration of justice; and to make use of legal tools and legal discipline for the advancement of the economic, political, educational, and social interest of Sacramento, especially the Black community.” This remains the WMBA’s purpose today.
The number of African-American attorneys in Sacramento County has grown tremendously since 1977. Black attorneys are present at essentially every level of the region’s legal and political landscape. Many credit the vision and hard work of our founding members for much of this notable development. Although often overlooked, the pioneering efforts of our founders, and their impact on the Sacramento community, have been profound.
Of course, despite this growth, there is still room for improvement. To make this needed improvement, we clearly need more African-American law students to graduate from law school and to pass the California State Bar Examination. We also need to establish programs and events that will inspire young people to be diligent in their studies to pursue a legal career, or any career that they may choose.
Last year, the WMBA Board formed the Friends of the WMBA, a 501(c )(3) non-profit corporation, to be the fund-raising arm. Through this non-profit, the WMBA has been able to raise funds for student scholarships. As a result, the WMBA has presented several scholarship awards, as well as several bar review awards, to local law school students.
The WMBA is now working on establishing a mentorship program for high school aged students. We hope to serve as positive role models for these youths. Also, plans are in the works to have a moot court component contained within this mentorship program.
On August 15, 2008, the WMBA will have its Third Annual Legal Fusion event. Ms. Pamela Samuels Young will be the keynote speaker. In addition to her work as a Managing Counsel for Labor and Employment Law for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., in Torrance, California, she is an accomplished writer. To date she has published three novels, which are Essence magazine bestsellers. Her legal thrillers have caused her to be described as, “John Grisham with a sister’s twist!” Like last year, we will sponsor several students to attend this event at no cost to them.
On behalf of the 2008 WMBA Board, I thank all of you for your on-going support. We are a strong bar association, and our efforts are being felt throughout the Sacramento region. Let’s continue to work hard and grow, and to foster positive leadership for our future.
Jean-Pierre Francillette
President, WMBA
www.wileymanuelbarassociation.com
