The Law School community gathered on February 24 for the third annual Judge James B. Parsons Legacy Dinner, a student-organized event that celebrates the integration of the federal judiciary. Judge Parsons, '49, was the first African American to serve as a federal judge under Article III in the continental United States.

The dinner is hosted by the Law School's Earl B. Dickerson Chapter of the Black Law Students Association and serves as an opportunity to honor a distinguished African American federal jurist.

This year, BLSA honored Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson (left) of the US District Court for the District of Columbia. She is show with BLSA vice president Adam Hassanein, '21 (center), and BLSA President Tyree Petty-Williams.

The event drew members of the judiciary, including Cook County Circuit Judge Erika Orr (center), seen talking with Professor Herschella Conyers and Savannah West, '20.

Andre Washington, '19 (left), returned to the Law School for the event. He is part of the group that started the Parsons Dinner in 2018.

Dean Thomas J. Miles welcomed attendees to the event.

Hassanein, who organized the event, introduced Jackson. During his remarks, which included encouragement to pursue public service work, Hassanein paid tribute Law School pioneers Earl B. Dickerson, class of 1920, UChicago's first Black JD graduate, and Nelson Willis, class of 1918, the first Black student to receive an LLB from the Law School.

After accepting the award, Jackson spoke about her own career and offered advice for navigating the workplace.

John Parsons, Judge Parsons' grandson, offered brief remarks about his grandfather.

Petty-Williams discussed BLSA's achievements in the past year, including volunteer efforts and events like the Parsons Dinner.

Chris Verdugo, '20, talked with Martin Green, '77, during the cocktail reception before dinner.

Nat Piggee, '00, chatted with Professor from Practice Sharon Fairley and Jackson.

Daniel Jellins, '21, and Naphtalie Ukiri, '21, talked with Professor Jonathan Masur at dinner.

Alexis Grinstead, Tammy Adereti, Amiri Lampley, Savannah West, and Kamara Nwosu, all '20, at the event.

The event "was a wonderful opportunity to get current BLSA students in touch with our accomplished alumni to share common expierences and memories while we honor an inspiration to our legal community, Judge Jackson," Hassanein said.

The Law School community gathered on February 24 for the third annual Judge James B. Parsons Legacy Dinner, a student-organized event that celebrates the integration of the federal judiciary. Judge Parsons, '49, was the first African American to serve as a federal judge under Article III in the continental United States. The dinner is hosted by the Law School's Earl B. Dickerson Chapter of the Black Law Students Association and serves as an opportunity to honor a distinguished African American federal jurist.

This year, BLSA honored Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson (left) of the US District Court for the District of Columbia. After accepting the award, Jackson spoke about her own career and offered advice for navigating the workplace.

The event "was a wonderful opportunity to get current BLSA students in touch with our accomplished alumni to share common expierences and memories while we honor an inspiration to our legal community, Judge Jackson," said BLSA vice president Adam Hassanein, '21, who planned the event.

Click through to see images from the night.