Georgia Lawyer Wins Revival of Race Bias Case Against State Bar

A Georgia lawyer can proceed with claims of racial discrimination in the State Bar’s handling of professional discipline, after the Eleventh Circuit revived her case on jurisdictional grounds.

The Georgia Supreme Court’s authority to adjudicate lawyer disciplinary matters doesn’t preclude federal courts from hearing related federal-law claims, a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit said. They sent the case back to the lower court for further proceedings.

Marsha W. Mignott, a Black attorney based in Atlanta, sued the State Bar of Georgia’s Office of General Counsel and related defendants under Section 1981 of ...