ALAN LUBY PHOTOS FOR SOUTH FLORIDA TIMES

West Palm Beach – In what has quickly emerged as one of South Florida’s premier Juneteenth observances The Palm Beach County Sheree Davis Cunningham Black Women Lawyers Association (SDCBWLA) again hosted legal community pioneers, luminaries and guests on June 19 at the Manatee Lagoon in West Palm Beach. They included, above seated from left, Ret. Judge Lucy Brown, Ret. Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara Pariente, SDCBWLA namesake Ret. Judge Sheree Davis Cunningham, Ret. 4th DCA Judge Carole Taylor; standing: U.S. Magistrate Judge Shaniek Maynard, Judge Debra Stephens, Magistrate Maxine Williams, U.S. Magistrate Judge Panayotta “Penny” Augustin-Birch, SDCBWLA President Salesia Smith-Gordon, Judge Bradley Harper, Magistrate Janie Lowe-Crittenden, and SDCBWLA co-founder/advisor/Juneteenth Chair Sandra Powery Moses; bottom right: Palm Beach County State Attorney Alexcia Cox with Judge “Penny” Birch.

In addition to urging support for the Black businesses in the room, particularly Black male businesses such as the event caterer, event Chair Powery-Moses cited SDCBWLA’s myriad attorney partners, including the Caribbean Bar Association, Haitian Lawyers Association, Palm Beach County Hispanic Bar Association, F. Malcolm Cunningham Bar Association, VH Florida Chapter of the National Bar Association, Broward County Bar Association, Palm Beach County Justice Association, Jewish Lawyers Association of Palm Beach County, South Palm Beach County Bar Association, Palm Beach County Bar Association CDI Committee, Florida Association for Women Lawyers Palm Beach County, and Broward County Hispanic Bar Association.

Amid their African-focused attire and vendors, the SDCBWLA’s Freedom Celebration, which also featured vendors, distinguished speakers, fashion show and youth participants, again was one of the highlights in South Florida’s increasing recognition of the significance of Juneteenth (see Page 3B).