C.K. Hoffler

The National Bar Association's new president, Atlanta plaintiffs attorney C.K. Hoffler, vowed to lead the nation's oldest and largest Black bar association in fighting what she called the three pandemics of 2020: COVID-19, police brutality and election suppression.

"Our lawyers are ready, willing and able to elevate their leadership in fighting these pandemics that plague the United States — and that disproportionately impact African Americans," Hoffler said in an interview.

"I know the power of NBA members across America and around the world," Hoffler said of the 65,000-member group. "We are a social justice organization, and our mandate is to protect and help make a difference in our communities."

Hoffler, who runs her own plaintiffs firm, was sworn in as the organization's 78th president at a virtual  gala last week by former Florida Supreme Court Justice Peggy Quince, the first Black woman to serve as its chief justice. 

Hoffler, who spent almost 13 years in Florida as renowned trial lawyer Willie Gary's law partner, co-chaired Quince's 2012 merit retention campaign. 

The Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. delivered taped opening remarks for Hoffler's remote induction ceremony. For the last 30 years, Hoffler has been pro bono counsel to Jackson and his social justice organization Rainbow PUSH, becoming the group's board chairwoman last year.

She has advised the civil rights leader behind the scenes on his peripatetic travels negotiating with heads of state and other political leaders to free Americans imprisoned in U.S. and foreign jails and advocating for fair elections, labor rights and peace over war. That work has informed Hoffler's practice.

She met Jackson when she was a new lawyer working on international cases at Finley Kumble in Washington. The law firm assigned her to assist Jackson on a 1988 trip to French-speaking Gabon, a firm client, because she spoke fluent French from growing up in Switzerland. She was in her second year of practice after graduating from Georgetown Law. 

After more than a decade of representing foreign governments and companies, Hoffler switched to trial law at Gary's encouragement. When he offered his support in getting her practice started, "it took me about 30 seconds to make the decision," Hoffler said. "As a trial lawyer, my soul, my spirit, my moral compass has always been centered on civil and human rights." 

COVID-19

Widespread education and activism is needed to protect local communities against the pandemic, Hoffler said. 

"We can't rely on the federal government, and local and state governments have produced a patchwork of approaches. It's up to our own leaders to step up and lead the fight against COVID-19. That means education, community involvement and coalition-building," she said. 

When the COVID-19 crisis began, the NBA formed an alliance with the National Medical Association, made up of 45,000 African American doctors, and Rainbow PUSH to craft a health care manifesto.

"COVID is a health care crisis, and people can't get testing and treatment. NMA doctors are on the front lines of that," Hoffler said, adding that Rainbow PUSH brings a grassroots network to the alliance, including activists and churches.

"The alliance's aim is to stem the disproportionate  mpact on the Black and Brown communities. People are dying at an alarming rate  — and so many cases are not being reported or are underreported," Hoffler said. "We need to get these voices heard — and if there's one thing lawyers are good at doing, it's getting their voices heard."

The NBA was one of the first groups to join the Georgia Coalition to Save Lives, made up of lawyers and civil and human rights organizations that in May pushed back against Gov. Brian Kemp for prematurely reopening the state. 

The Georgia coalition went on to advocate for consistent public messaging on mask-wearing and other lifesaving measures for communities of color, prison populations, seniors and others most impacted by COVID-19. It is also pushing for local ordinances, such as wearing masks, to protect against COVID-19, Hoffler said, which NBA lawyers are helping draft nationally. 

Police Brutality

NBA lawyers also are on the front lines in combating police brutality. Lawyers representing the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks and scores of others killed by police are all NBA members and leaders, Hoffler said.

"They got their training at the NBA," she said. "This bar holds a special place in our hearts because at one time we could not join another national bar." 

Ben Crump of Tallahassee took on Trayvon Martin's case in 2012 and then Michael Brown's case. He now represents the families of Brooks and George Floyd. 

Crump also took on the American justice system in a book he published last year, "Open Season: Legalized Genocide of Colored People." The civil rights lawyer, who was NBA president in 2015, said he started writing it at the height of the Ferguson, Missouri, protests in 2014 over Brown's killing, which further mobilized the Black Lives Matter movement. 

Lonita Baker, an NBA vice president, is lead counsel for Breonna Taylor's mother in her civil suit against the three Louisville, Kentucky, police officers who shot her to death in March.

L. Chris Stewart of Atlanta and S. Lee Merritt of Philadelphia are representing Ahmaud Arbery's mother while Crump is representing the slain man's father. Arbery was shot and killed by two white men while out for a Sunday jog in Brunswick, Georgia.

It took 74 days from Arbery's Feb. 23 killing until the George Bureau of Investigation filed charges against Greg McMichael, an ex-police officer, and his son Travis McMichael. The May 7 arrests came two days after family lawyers released a video of the shooting on social media.

NBA members are pushing for local ordinances for policing reform. Hoffler said the organization has a task force working to set the agenda on police reforms along with members of the Congressional Black Caucus, which includes NBA members such as Bobby Scott and Elijah Cummings.

NBA lawyers also represent protesters arrested across the country this year.

Election Suppression

Election suppression is a persistent and critical problem that disproportionately affects people of color, Hoffler said. For elections, NBA lawyers are poll observers, make sure people can get to the polls and stand ready to sue on behalf of any voters blocked from voting.

Hoffler waited five hours to vote at her precinct for the Georgia Democratic primary in June, which was widely criticized for the chaotic administration and malfunctioning machines that resulted in long lines at the polls.

"This is a precursor for the November election," she warned.

"We've been fighting these issues for years that only now are coming to mainstream attention," Hoffler said. "And now we are facing pandemics. So I'm elevating the role of the NBA. We have to be out there representing because our communities are disproportionately affected. It's our duty."