Contact: Carol Rose, Public Relations Manager
Phone: (602) 340-7337

Benjamin Taylor, first Black president of the State Bar of Arizona

PHOENIX – June 16, 2023 – At the State Bar of Arizona’s annual Convention this month in Tucson, attorney Benjamin Taylor will make history. On Friday, June 16, he becomes the first Black President of the Board of Governors. Taylor has served several years on the Board and in a variety of leadership positions. But he says the day he takes the oath of office is particularly meaningful for him because it happens right before Juneteenth, the federal holiday celebrating the end of slavery in the United States.

Taylor, who has practiced personal injury, civil rights, and criminal defense law for 17 years says he’s humbled to be the first African American president of the Bar, but he wants to ensure that he’s not the last.

“I am here because of the Bar’s Leadership Institute. I found my way to the table because the Bar found me and helped me see myself as a leader. As president, I want to initiate more outreach like that and take an in-depth look at the Bar’s programs and processes. The Board of Governors establishes and drives the Bar’s mission to serve and protect the public. I believe that begins with investing in our members’ mental and professional health.”

Taylor says he also wants to increase outreach to the public. A core part of the Bar’s mission is improving the public’s access to justice. He hopes to build on current initiatives and encourage fellow board members to be ambassadors for the Bar’s efforts.

What: Benjamin Taylor sworn in as President, Board of Governors of the State Bar of Arizona
When: Friday, June 16, 2023, 12 p.m.
Where: State Bar Convention Luncheon, Tucson Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa

About the State Bar
The State Bar of Arizona is a non-profit organization that operates under the supervision of the Arizona Supreme Court. The Bar includes approximately 25,000 active attorneys and provides education and development programs for the legal profession and the public. Since 1933, the Bar and its members have been committed to serving the public by making sure the voices of all people in Arizona are heard in our justice system.

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