Demetrius Shelton '93 Named as National Bar President

Demetrius Shelton '93 has been named as president of the National Bar Association.  Shelton currently serves as an administrative hearing officer for the City of Oakland, and is also the principal attorney for the Shelton Law Offices based in Oakland.

Shelton has served as a member of the National Bar Association's Board of Governors for more than 12 years, spearheading several major initiatives including the effort to safeguard the vote during the historic 2008 Presidential Election; calling for a thorough investigation into Hurricane Katrina and other disaster relief efforts; and, most recently, leading the NBA's Haitian Relief Task Force. 

Speaking at his inauguration during the NBA's annual awards gala in new Orleans, Shelton stressed the need to "expand the pipeline into the legal field" for minorities, which the NBA has showcased through its annual Crump Summer Law Camp, its mentoring program and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major for Justice Competition. In addition, he advocated the necessity to diversify the legal profession through increased opportunities.

During his speech, Shelton stated that it is important "to lift up those who are in need of our assistance -- be it by providing pro bono or low cost legal services, working with young lawyers and law students and ensuring their success in the profession, as well as reaching back to the grade schools and introducing our children to the profession and letting them know early in their lives that practicing law is within their realm of possibilities in living a positive and productive life."