JACKIE POWELL: BROWARD COUNTY’S FIRST FEMALE JAMAICAN AMERICAN JUDGE IN WAITING

As Jamaicans and persons of Jamaican heritage in the US grow in self-confidence, an increasing number are putting themselves forward for elected office, especially in communities with large concentration of Jamaican and Caribbean populations. Among the best known currently is Congresswoman Yvette Clarke of New York who was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2006. More recently, we have seen the meteoric rise to national prominence of Kamala Harris a first term Senator from California.

South Florida, home to some 100,000 Jamaicans has Jamaican Dale Holness as Commissioner for Broward County and Winston Barnes as one of the Commissioners for the City of Miramar.  Now the latest person of Jamaican heritage to throw her hat in the ring is Jackie Powell who hopes to create history by being elected the first female Jamaican American judge to sit on the Broward County bench. Judicial elections in the US are non-partisan and candidates are chosen based purely on a candidate’s education, legal experience and community participation.

Jackie Powell will be counting on the support of the tens of thousands of Jamaican electors of Broward County in the November run-off elections. She not only deserves their vote but also the moral support of Jamaicans at home because Broward County needs a Jackie Powell on the bench. Why?

Of the 90 judges who sit on the benches of the Broward county court system, only nine are black. Having more black judges in the court system is not only important for racial and cultural diversity but also for the long-term health of the community and young black offenders in particular. Powell is quoted as saying:

“ I am running in a county court seat. County court is where first time offenders often find themselves. If I can make a ruling that will steer someone from the path of a convicted felon, county court is where that can be done.”

Jackie Powell hails from Franklin Town in East Kingston and attended Franklin Town Primary and Camperdown High School before emigrating to the US. She completed her undergraduate studies in English at Florida Atlantic University and had her sights set on becoming a teacher but veered into the legal profession where she has remained and has excelled.

Powell’s move is a brave one. She is a sole practitioner in her own law firm specializing in family and criminal law but her confidence has been justified so far, having won the highest percentage (42.3 %) of the votes in the August 28 Primary, in spite of access to limited financial resources.  Come run-off day in November Powell is even now more confident that she will emerge victorious.

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