Local judges, lawyers create Caribbean American Lawyers Association

Hon. Sylvia Hinds-Radix is group’s inaugural president

July 13, 2020 Rob Abruzzese

Justice Sylvia Hinds-Radix is the inaugural president of the Caribbean American Lawyers Association, a new citywide bar association. Photo: Mario Belluomo/Brooklyn Eagle

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A group of Caribbean-American lawyers and judges informed the Brooklyn Eagle that they have created a new affinity bar association known as the Caribbean American Lawyers Association.

Justice Sylvia Hinds-Radix, the former Kings County Supreme Court administrative judge who now sits on the bench in the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, will serve as the citywide bar association’s first president.

“The organization was borne out of the need for Caribbean American judges and lawyers to foster unity and congeniality within our community with a vision to mentor and inspire,” Justice Hinds-Radix said.

Justice Hinds-Radix, who has degrees from the Howard University School of Law, LIU-Brooklyn and the University of Massachusetts, is very active in other local bar associations and has previously served as past president of the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association and the Nathan R. Sobel American Inns of Court. She is also an officer, board member, and committee chair of other bar associations, including the New York State Bar Association.

The other officers include Yvette Hinds Wills, who is the first vice president; Michelle DeSouza-Forte, the second vice president; Carmelle Robillard, the treasurer; and Vallerie Howell, the corresponding secretary.

The board of directors includes Natoya McGhie, the president of the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association, Rudyard Whyte, Sonia Blake and Jade Edwards.

The association plans on voting in a recording secretary and appointing six more directors.

Look for future announcements about the bar association in the Brooklyn Eagle as the group works to put together a website and future events. Anyone interested in joining should contact Yvette Hinds-Wills.