Judge admits former student to the bar

Flint 67th District Judge Herman Marable, Jr.conducted a ceremony swearing-in and admitting to the bar a former Judge Marable Student of the Month as a new attorney. Charis Lee, a native of Flint, passed the July 2017 Texas Bar Examination. Lee, 28, was a Student of the Month in 2005. The ceremony was held March 23 in Marable’s courtroom with family, friends and legal community members in attendance.

Lee is a senior labor relations representative at Lockeed Martin Aeronautics Company in Marietta, Georgia. Prior to her current position, she worked as human resources professional while also serving honorably for eight years in the Army National Guard as a Human Resource Specialist, and Public Affairs Specialist. While serving the country, Lee graduated from college and law school.

Lee is a 2017 cum laude graduate of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University in Houston. She graduated from James Madison College at Michigan State University in 2014 with a B.A. in International Relations. She is a 2007 graduate of Carman-Ainsworth High School where she played varsity basketball and softball. During those years she was a volunteer with the Girl Scouts as well as the Greater Flint Youth Leadership Council.

She has credited her participation in the Judge Marable Student of the Month program when she was a tenth grader at Carman-Ainsworth High School as a major inspiration that lead her to become an attorney. Lee had the opportunity to job shadow Marable, and participate in a campus visit to Michigan State University over a decade ago as a Student of the Month.

“The swearing in of Charis Lee as an attorney to me represents the completion of a circle. I am very excited and proud to help her begin her career as a lawyer in the very spot where it all began for her,”  said Marable. Lee thanked her supporters during the ceremony. She indicated that her goal is to return to Flint and become a community leader. Lee was also presented during the ceremony with a letter recognizing her achievement by the Association of Black Judges of Michigan.

The Judge Marable Student of the Month/Year program was established in 2004 by Marable and his Citizens Advisory Committee to encourage Genesee County high school students to focus on academic achievement and career goals.

Each month during the school year a tenth grade student is recognized. At the end of the school year, one of the monthly awardees is selected as Judge Marable Student of the Year and receives a $500 prize.