About JTBF

 "Just the Beginning" began as a celebration and commemoration of the "Integration of the Federal Judiciary" on September 19, 1992, in Chicago, Illinois.  It also honored Judge James Parsons, the first African-American United States District Court Judge, on his retirement after his thirty-one years of dedicated service on the federal bench. 

Inspired by the events of that gathering, JTBF was founded as a multiracial not-for-profit organization of judges, lawyers, and citizens to preserve the rich stories of judges and lawyers of color.  As JTBF evolved, the lessons learned from these trailblazers inspired the organization to focus its efforts on developing programs that would open the pipeline of opportunity for young persons from diverse backgrounds.  JTBF's long-term goal is to increase diversity in the legal profession and on the bench.

JTBF supports students of color and other underrepresented groups by providing free educational and mentoring programs.  JTBF offers a series of pipeline programs to prepare students for careers in law, which include Middle School and High School Summer Legal Institutes, an Advanced Summer Legal Institute, law student externships, law student scholarships, programming in schools that target underserved and minority high school and college students, and biennial conferences that bring together diverse legal leaders of local communities. 

In 2008, JTBF held its third annual Summer Legal Institute, introducing students of color and other underrepresented groups to the legal profession through an intensive nine-day program.  JTBF also sponsors several "Federal Courts Day" each summer, which allow students of all ages to interact with judges and follow judicial proceedings.  A pipeline organization, JTBF tracks its students and has programs for them as they go through middle school, high school, college, and law school. 

JTBF has partnered with the CLEO (Council on Legal Education Opportunities), Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms, Chicago LegalTrek, Sidley Scholars, Scholarship Chicago,  the Law School Admission Council and Chicago-Kent College of Law's PreLaw Undergraduate Scholars (PLUS) Program, and a host of other pipeline organizations.   

We are constantly reminded that we stand on the shoulders of those judges and lawyers who have blazed the trail before us. 

Without their faith, courage, and vision, we would not be here today. 

We are committed to passing on the lessons their lives reveal to those that follow, while realizing that we too are just the beginning.