Yvette McGee Brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yvette McGee Brown
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Associate Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court | |
| In office January 1, 2011 – December 7, 2012 |
|
| Appointed by | Ted Strickland |
| Preceded by | Maureen O'Connor |
| Succeeded by | Sharon L. Kennedy |
| Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County, Ohio | |
| In office 1993–2002 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1960 (age 64–65) Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Tony Brown |
| Alma mater | Ohio University (BA) Ohio State University (JD) |
| Profession | Lawyer, social worker, politician |
Yvette McGee Brown (born in 1960) made history as the first African American woman to become a justice on the Ohio Supreme Court. She started this important job on January 1, 2011. Before that, she helped start the Center for Child and Family Advocacy at Nationwide Children's Hospital. She also served as a judge for nine years in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.
Yvette McGee Brown was recognized for her amazing work when she was added to the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame in 2008. Later, in 2014, she joined the Central Ohio Business Hall of Fame. She has received many awards for helping her community and for her strong dedication to protecting children and families. Today, she works at the global law firm Jones Day. There, she leads efforts to make sure everyone feels welcome and has chances to succeed.
Contents
Education and Learning Journey
Yvette McGee Brown has a strong background in education. She earned her first degree in Journalism and Public Relations from Ohio University. Later, she received her law degree, called a Juris Doctor, from Ohio State University's Moritz College of Law. She also has several honorary Doctor of Laws degrees. These special degrees were given to her by Ohio Dominican University, Wilberforce University, and Central State University.
Career and Public Service
In 1992, Yvette McGee Brown was elected as a judge for the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. This court handles family matters and cases involving young people. She was the first African-American woman to be elected to this court. She served there for nine years, making a big difference. As the main judge for the Juvenile Court, she helped create two important programs. One was the Family Drug Court, and the other was the SMART Program. The SMART Program helps kids who are not attending school and makes sure they get their education.
Since 2002, Brown has been the founding President of the Center for Child and Family Advocacy. This non-profit organization is part of Nationwide Children's Hospital. Its main goal is to help treat and prevent child abuse and harm within families.
She has also served on the boards of many important organizations. These include Ohio University, The Ohio State University Medical Center, and Fifth Third Bank of Central Ohio.
On December 10, 2010, Governor Ted Strickland chose Yvette McGee Brown to join The Ohio Supreme Court. She started her role on January 1, 2011. She filled the spot left by Associate Justice Maureen O'Connor, who became the chief justice. Brown ran for re-election but was not successful. Her term on the Supreme Court ended on December 31, 2012.
After her time on the Supreme Court, Brown joined the law firm Jones Day in 2013. She works in their Columbus office. In 2015, she took on a new role at the firm. She became the Partner-in-Charge of Diversity, Inclusion & Advancement. This means she helps make sure the firm is a welcoming place for everyone.
Political Involvement
Yvette McGee Brown is a member of the Democratic Party.
Judge Brown served as a judge in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. This court deals with family issues and cases involving young people. She was the first American of African Ancestry and the second woman to be elected to this court. She was first elected in 1993. She left her judge position in 2002 to focus on developing the Center for Child and Family Advocacy.
2010 Elections
On January 19, 2010, Governor Ted Strickland announced that Yvette McGee Brown would be his "running mate." This means she would run for Lieutenant Governor alongside him for his second term. She would have been the fourth female lieutenant governor in Ohio's history. She would also have been the second American of African Ancestry lieutenant governor. However, the team of Strickland and Brown lost the election on November 2, 2010. They lost to John Kasich and his running mate Mary Taylor.
Awards and Recognition
Yvette McGee Brown has received many honors for her contributions. In 2008, she was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame. In 2014, she joined the Central Ohio Business Hall of Fame. She has also won many awards for her community service. Some of her notable awards include the Public Service Award from Ohio University. She also received the Medal of Merit Alumni Award from Ohio University. From The Ohio State University, she earned the Distinguished Service Award. She also won the William Oxley Thompson Alumni Award for Distinguished Achievement. Other awards include the Champion of Children Award and the YWCA Woman of Achievement Award.
Personal Life and Family
Yvette McGee Brown was born in Columbus. She was raised by her single mother and her grandmother. Her family always taught her how important education was. She was the first person in her family to graduate from college. She is a Baptist.
She is married to Anthony Brown, and they have three children. During her campaign for lieutenant governor, she shared a special memory. Her grandmother told her, "Go run, tell that!" when people were talking about her. Yvette used this advice to encourage voters. She told them to "go run" and "tell" others about the facts of the 2010 campaign.
See also
