Civil trial attorney Rosalyn Sia Baker-Barnes recently shattered another ceiling by getting elected as the first Black woman president-elect designate of the Florida Bar.
Prominent Attorney Adds New First to List of Achievements
The prominent West Palm Beach lawyer became the first African American female president of the Palm Beach County Bar Association in 2017. She also co-founded a local Black women lawyers group.
Now the shareholder at personal injury firm Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley will serve as second-in-command in 2024 before her presidential term in 2025.
Vows to Open Leadership Doors for Young Black Lawyers
While honored by her pioneering election among the Florida Bar’s over 110,000 members, Baker-Barnes stresses it’s about helping marginalized groups rather than personal glory.
The 48-year-old wants to start mentorship initiatives to build skills not taught in law schools. She hopes inspiring young Black lawyers to aim for top legal positions.
Carries on Family Legacy of Pioneering Jurists
Baker-Barnes hails from a trailblazing legal family. Her father was appointed Palm Beach County’s first Black male circuit judge in 1994, while her mother worked in corrections.
She initially resisted law, working in journalism. But after attending Florida State University for both communications and law degrees, Baker-Barnes found her true calling fighting for injured clients.
Now Rosalyn Sia Baker-Barnes builds on her family’s justice legacy while reaching back to pull up future generations of Black lawyers behind her.
