By Krystal Biggins & Amber Moore
Assistant Criminal District Attorneys in Dallas County and Executive Board members of the Dallas–Fort Worth Black Prosecutors Association
Three months into 2020, we found ourselves amidst an unprecedented global pandemic that caused isolation from family, friends, and colleagues. On May 25 of that year, we were in shock and utter disbelief to learn the news of George Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis police officer. His murder became a catalyst for much-needed race-related conversations and more diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in many areas, but specifically within the legal community for Black prosecutors. We needed a safe space to have these conversations.
Ten days after George Floyd’s death, TDCAA’s Diversity, Recruitment, & Retention Committee offered a confidential and safe space where Black prosecutors could discuss their feelings and experiences in the wake of what was happening: a virtual forum. Toward the forum’s conclusion, a former Southern Regional Director of the National Black Prosecutors Association (NBPA) who was on the call mentioned the NBPA and shared the purpose of the organization. For many of us, it was the first time we had heard of the NBPA. Prosecutors on the forum were encouraged to act by getting involved in their local chapter or by starting one if a chapter did not already exist.
For those of us who learned of the NBPA through the forum, we in Dallas County discovered that the NBPA was a well-recognized national organization. It was founded in Chicago in 1983 and is the “only organization dedicated to the hiring, retention, and promotion of Black prosecutors,” according to its website. The NBPA recognizes the need to correct the “dramatic inequity that exists with respect to Black representation in the executive ranks of prosecutor’s offices.” Therefore, the NBPA’s goal is to not only “recruit, [but also] train and mentor younger aspiring lawyers for leadership roles in the years ahead.”
This was exactly what we were looking for. We did not have a local chapter in the Dallas–Fort Worth area—and we needed one. Soinkne Lewis, an ACDA in Dallas County, had been a member of NBPA for years, and she had always wanted to launch a local chapter. She spearheaded the initiative to get the DFW chapter started. The Dallas Fort-Worth Black Prosecutors Association (DFWBPA) was chartered in 2021 after a desire to effectuate change in our community and to prosecute with a purpose. Our goal is to advance the art of fair and firm prosecution; to encourage legal education and professional development; to provide and promote fellowship and support for Black prosecutors; and to increase camaraderie and nationwide networking among Black prosecutors.
To start the chapter, we first had to become members of NBPA. Once we had at least 10 paid members in NBPA, we began formulating bylaws that would govern our local chapter. We used the bylaws framework from other local chapters and the national chapter as our guide.
DFWBPA is comprised of a general body membership and an Executive Board. The general body meets as needed, and the Executive Board meets monthly to discuss and plan programming throughout the year.
Since our inception, we have prioritized investing in our local communities. We have partnered with several nonprofits for toy and clothing drives, and many of our members regularly speak to school-aged kids about the life of a prosecutor. We organized an office-wide CLE during Black History Month, created relevant programming during Women’s History Month, and hosted a snack-and-chat series during Juneteenth. Additionally, we host several social mixers throughout the year for current and prospective members, local law enforcement partners, and the defense bar to continue cultivating those working relationships.
In June 2024, we announced one of our most meaningful accomplishments in establishing the Craig M. Watkins Scholarship Fund to honor the legacy of the late Criminal District Attorney in Dallas County and continue the ongoing objectives of the NBPA. Two scholarships totaling $3,500 were awarded to a qualified law student and a post-bar intern.
In August 2024, members of our Executive Board had the privilege to travel to Boston for the annual NBPA national conference. This was the first year for all of us to attend. We were overwhelmed with joy and pride to see so many Black prosecutors at the state and federal level in one place. This year’s conference theme was “Educate, Advocate, Innovate: Inspiring the Future of Prosecution.” The conference offered valuable opportunities to fellowship and attend numerous CLE sessions, and most notably, it reminded us of why we are needed in prosecution.
While at the conference, our chapter was awarded the prestigious honor of Chapter of the Year. While it was completely unexpected, the award symbolized the dedication and hard work our Executive Board and members have devoted to the organization since 2021.
While we are proud of all that we have accomplished thus far, we just wish that we would have had this type of organization earlier in our careers. The benefits of this organization have been impactful beyond measure. Member Delayna Griffin remarked how it has strengthened our sense of service to others, allowed us to embrace the challenges of being a Black prosecutor, and—most importantly—emphasizes the significance of diversity and representation within the legal field, especially in our continued commitment to see justice done.