National Black Prosecutors Association Meets in Atlanta

The National Black Prosecutors Association (NBPA) held its 20th-Anniversary Conference in Atlanta from August 10th through the 16th, and the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office acted as official host for the event. Among the high-profile attendees and participants were District Attorney Paul Howard, former Atlanta mayor and ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young, famed litigator Willie Gary, Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington, U.S. Attorney William Duffy, New Orleans District
Attorney Eddie Jordan, former Georgia governor Roy Barnes, and renowned defense attorney Johnnie Cochran.
	Nearly 200 legal professionals from across the country and the globe took part in the conference, which included a job fair for young people hoping to break into the field. Panel discussions and training sessions covered topics such as prosecuting public corruption, dealing with affirmative action, homeland security, death penalty issues, and how prosecutors can battle the sexual exploitation of women and children. Events included a luncheon at the Carter Center, a tour of the King Center, and an awards ceremony at which former-Governor Barnes received the Association’s ‘Profiles in Courage’ award. A ‘town hall meeting’ focusing on the death-penalty prosecution of former Black Panther Jamil Al-Amin and Johnnie Cochran’s presentation on closing arguments both attracted capacity crowds at the Westin Peachtree Plaza
The NBPA was formed 20 years ago. The organization developed from the need for African-American prosecutors across the country to share ideas, goals, and views on a variety of issues. Norm Early, then Chief Deputy in the Denver District Attorney’s Office, was one of the pioneers of the Association. While the NBPA’s first official meeting in Orlando, Florida, drew only about 30 participants, the Association soon built up steam and is now stronger than ever.