Sandra H. Robinson, a prominent trial attorney with Jack Olender & Associates in Washington, D.C., was elected President of the Public Justice Foundation on July 16 at the organization’s Annual Membership Meeting in Chicago, becoming the first African American to head the 3,000-member group.

The Public Justice Foundation is the nonprofit support organization for Public Justice (formerly Trial Lawyers for Public Justice), a national public interest law firm founded in 1982 and dedicated to using trial lawyers’ skills and resources to advance the public good.

A former attorney for the Federal Election Commission, Ms. Robinson is an accomplished lawyer who specializes in medical malpractice litigation. She is a past president of the Women’s Bar Association Foundation and the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, and serves on the board of governors of the American Association of Justice. She won the National Bar Association’s Presidential Award in 1996.

“I have always been proud to be a part of Public Justice, but never more so than now with its expanded vision as America’s public interest law firm and its dedication to inclusiveness,” said Ms. Robinson. “As president, I will devote myself to our growth in size and spirit.”

A graduate of Oberlin College, Ms. Robinson received her J.D. from the Catholic University Columbus School of law in 1982.

"Sandra Robinson will take this organization to new heights,” said outgoing Public Justice Foundation President Alan R. Brayton of Brayton¨Purcell in Novato, Calif. “She not only exemplifies our commitment to diversity, but will underscore it to ensure that all Americans know we are here to serve, protect and defend justice for all.”

Ms. Robinson has been an enthusiastic supporter of Public Justice for nearly a decade, having served on the Board of Directors for eight years and on the Foundation’s Executive Committee since 2001.

Four other attorneys were elected as officers of the Public Justice Foundation at the July 16^th meeting:

• President-Elect Gerson H. Smoger, Ph.D., Smoger & Associates in Dallas, TX

• Vice President Mona Lisa Wallace of Wallace & Graham, P.A., in Salisbury, NC;

• Treasurer Harry G. Deitzler of the Law Firm of Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee & Deitzler, PLLC, in Charleston, WV; and

• Secretary Steven E. Fineman of Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, L.L.P. in New York.

Two attorneys were elected to the organization’s Executive Committee:

• Theodore  J. Leopold of  Ricci ~ Leopold, P.A. in Balm Beach Gardens, FL; and

• Roger L. Mandel of Stanley, Mandel & Iola, L.L.P. in Dallas, TX.

In addition, eight attorneys were elected to the Public Justice Foundation Board:

• Roxanne B. Conlin of Roxanne Conlin & Associates, P.C. in Des Moines, IA;

• Andrew S. Friedman of Bonnett, Fairbourn, Friedman & Balint, P.C. in Phoenix, AZ;

• Rhon E. Jones of Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C. in Montgomery, AL;

• Ira H. Leesfield of Leesfield, Leighton & Partners, P.A. in Miami, FL;

• Brad J. Moore of Stritmatter Kessler Whelan Coluccio in Seattle, WA;

• Bernard W. Smalley of Anapol, Schwartz, Weiss, Cohan, Feldman & Smalley, PC in Philadelphia, PA;

• Michael L. Williams of Williams, Love, O’Leary, Craine & Powers, P.C. in Portland, OR; and

• Rhonda H. Wilson of the Law Office of Rhonda Hill Wilson, Philadelphia, PA.