The Law School is incredibly proud of its 2023 graduates. Your perseverance and resilience beginning law school virtually, and continuing semester to semester with such uncertainty in the world, is truly admirable. It is a testament to your professionalism and work ethic and we look forward to following your careers and championing all your future successes.
Valedictorians
This award is given to the valedictorian from each of the school’s divisions (full-time and part-time).
Allyssia Constance Andrews, full-time program
Undergraduate Institution: Covenant College
Favorite AJMLS memory: My favorite memories were being able to serve as the Vice President and Treasurer of the Public Interest Law Society (PILS), as well as attending the PILS Auctions and Barrister’s Ball.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: In August, I will begin my legal career at Eraclides Gelman, a worker’s compensation defense firm. I also plan on serving the community by volunteering at a non-profit such as Atlanta Legal Aid, Innocence Project or Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation.
Jacob Holden Gregory, part-time program
Undergraduate Institution: Clayton State University, Southern Crescent Technical College, & University of West Georgia
Favorite AJMLS memory: Eating flatbread pizza with my classmates at Canopy after surviving 1L final exams.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: I intend to practice in the areas of Civil Rights and Capital Defense.
Commencement Marshals
This inaugural recognition was peer chosen. Members of the graduating class voted to select two students (one part-time and one full-time student) to lead the processional, announce the members on the dais, and guide the recessional.
Katie Adams, full-time program
Bethany Keyes, part-time program
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School Outstanding Graduate Awards
This award is given annually to one graduate in each of the school’s divisions (part-time and full-time) who best demonstrates standards of competence and professionalism, a strong social conscience, high ethical standards, and a commitment to the improvement of the legal system and society, as determined by the Faculty on recommendation of the Honors and Awards Committee.
Chauncey Alexander Graham, full-time program
Jacob Holden Gregory, part-time program
Undergraduate Institution: Clayton State University, Southern Crescent Technical College, & University of West Georgia
Favorite AJMLS memory: Eating flatbread pizza with my classmates at Canopy after surviving 1L final exams.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: I intend to practice in the areas of Civil Rights and Capital Defense.
Pro Bono Distinction Award
This distinction is given to students who have completed 75 hours or more of pro bono work during their law school career.
Carlton Adam LeRoi Lewis
Undergraduate institution: Morehouse College
Favorite AJMLS memory: Humbly serving as president of the reactivated Public Interest Law Society (PILS) student organization and with the help of my team we relaunched the annual PILS auction and raised over $12,000 in scholarship funds for AJMLS students committed to public service.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: I plan on specializing as a criminal attorney. In addition, as a justice-impacted individual, I will be advocating for criminal justice reform on various forums. Lastly, I will serve as an ambassador to AJMLS and establish a scholarship fund to aid students who dream as I did, to one day not only become an attorney, but an agent of change.
Lloyd Jean
Undergraduate Institution: Fort Valley State University
Favorite AJMLS memory: All the events I was able to host and coordinate as the President of SELS.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: Taking an international bar and traveling the world.
Allyssia Constance Andrews
Undergraduate Institution: Covenant College
Favorite AJMLS memory: My favorite memories were being able to serve as the Vice President and Treasurer of the Public Interest Law Society (PILS), as well as attending the PILS Auctions and Barrister’s Ball.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: In August, I will begin my legal career at Eraclides Gelman, a worker’s compensation defense firm. I also plan on serving the community by volunteering at a non-profit such as Atlanta Legal Aid, Innocence Project or Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation.
Excellence In Pro Bono
This award is given to those students whose pro bono hours are among the top 10% earned in the graduating class. This award is not merit-based.
Victor J. Gordon
Undergraduate institution: Long Island University
Favorite AJMLS memory: I do not have one singular favorite memory at AJMLS, however, the personal growth that I experienced between 1L orientation and graduation will always hold a special place in my heart. It was at AJMLS that I was able to hone my personal and professional goals and aspirations.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: I am in the process of securing a Federal Judicial Clerkship. If this opportunity does not come to fruition, I will be hanging up my shingle as a solo practitioner the very next day after I am sworn in as an attorney. Trust and believe, the shingle will be shingle-ing.
The Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears Pro Bono Award
The Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears Pro Bono Award is given to the graduate whose pro bono work has demonstrated outstanding commitment to legal services for underserved communities and their work was impactful.
Esther Yeeun Ko
Undergraduate institution: University of Georgia
Favorite AJMLS memory: My favorite memory I have is laughing with my friends during our gaps!
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: I want to make a change so that marginalized communities can receive equal access to justice!
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School Award for Excellence in Appellate Advocacy
This award is given to the outstanding student participant on a John Marshall Law School moot court competition team.
Keith Andre Collins
Undergraduate institution: Norfolk State University
Favorite AJMLS memory: I have so many memories from AJMLS that it is difficult to choose; however, among my most fond would be the opportunity to speak as AJMLS received a proclamation from the Fulton County Board of Commissioners during the televised Board of Commissioner meeting recognizing Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School Appreciation Day on August 17, 2022, for our contribution to the community.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: After the bar exam, I will see Beyonce on tour and then take a vacation! Additionally, my goal is to gain employment in criminal law so that I can begin to become the lawyer I have always envisioned myself to be in my pursuit of becoming a judge.
Jude Harold R. Banke Advocacy Award
This award is given to the outstanding student participant on a mock trial competition team.
Katie Forrester Adams
Henning Award for The Atlanta Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section
This award is given to an outstanding ADR student at each of the state’s five ABA-accredited law schools. These awards are given in memory of Ed Henning, one of the “founding fathers” of mediation in Georgia.
Brooke Janese Harrison
Undergraduate Institution: McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Brooke earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science.
Favorite AJMLS memory: My first Barrister’s ball during my 2L year. It was so great to see faculty and students having such a great time after a long year of virtual studies!
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: I plan to use my Law Degree to effect change, not only in Georgia but across the nation fighting to maintain our civil rights and liberties and creating systems that foster justice and equality for everyone.
Georgia Association For Women Lawyers Outstanding Graduate Award
This award is given to a woman from each Georgia law school based on academic accomplishments and contributions to women’s issues.
Rose Laren Love
National Association of Women Lawyers Outstanding Law Student Award
This award is given to a third-year law student who who best exemplifies the following characteristics:
- Contributes to the advancement of women in society
- Promotes issues and concerns of women in the legal profession
- Exhibits motivation, tenacity, and enthusiasm
- Demonstrates high academic achievement
- Earns the respect of the faculty and administration
Ashley Starnes
Order of Quill
The Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) Order of the Quill (“Order”) is an honor society that recognizes significant academic achievement in designated required doctrinal courses (“Quill” courses). Students who achieve the required cumulative grade point average in the Quill courses will be eligible for admission into the Order. Members of the Order shall receive certificates of membership and be recognized at graduation.
Davis Milton Feder, Member of the Order
Undergraduate institution: Brown University and Kennesaw State University
Favorite AJMLS memory: Walking across the stage at graduation.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: Undecided.
Allyssia Andrews, Scholar of the Order
Undergraduate Institution: Covenant College
Favorite AJMLS memory: My favorite memories were being able to serve as the Vice President and Treasurer of the Public Interest Law Society (PILS), as well as attending the PILS Auctions and Barrister’s Ball.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: In August, I will begin my legal career at Eraclides Gelman, a worker’s compensation defense firm. I also plan on serving the community by volunteering at a non-profit such as Atlanta Legal Aid, Innocence Project or Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation.
Raford Kelly III, Scholar of the Order
Jessica Jenese Regalado-Bailey, Scholar of the Order
Jacob Holden Gregory, Exemplar Scholar and Marshall of the Order
Undergraduate Institution: Clayton State University, Southern Crescent Technical College, & University of West Georgia
Favorite AJMLS memory: Eating flatbread pizza with my classmates at Canopy after surviving 1L final exams.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam: I intend to practice in the areas of Civil Rights and Capital Defense.
December 2022 Graduates
Dallas Jacob Cole
Layla Ghali
Isa Harrison
Anaia Johnson
Thomas Joseph Krupinski
Joseph Richard Moss
Kya Rochelle Williams
May 2023 Graduates
Katie Forrester Adams
Aderemi Adetokunbo Adeshola*
Estibaliz Siboney Afanador
Lindsey Rhay Almand
Allyssia Constance Andrews, magna cum laude
Lauren Charday Briggs
Maya Brown Bowden
Hanna Marie Canavan
Lance Carruth
Monique Alicia Cherry
Kyra Yvonne-Laxmi Clark
Keith Andre Collins*
Danyelle Davis
Mercedes Lorine Dickerson
James J. Dixon
Shane Downard
Davis Milton Feder
Beverly Dianne Fratto
Eddis Wilton Freeman III
DonsherRhea Frison
Myah Andanaé Fuqua*
Gandara Garland Gallishaw
Victor J. Gordon
Chauncey Alexander Graham
Jacob Holden Gregory, summa cum laude
Brooke Janese Harrison*
Nina Wondwossen Hassen
Lauren Kay Henderson
Maritza Delleisa Heard
Maureen A. Jagne-Shaw
Lloyd Jean
MarQuita Danielle Jones
Raford Kelly III, cum laude
*Criminal Justice Certificate Program
Bethany Rell Keyes
Sanghun Kim
Esther Yeeun Ko
Carlton Adam LeRoi Lewis
Rose Laren Love
Kayla Alexandria Magee
Joseph J. Maggiano
Brittany Deann Manuel
Elizabeth Anne Marra
Daniela Alejandra Martinez
Katie McClelland, magna cum laude
Cristian Medina
Richard G. Mejia
Zaimah Thabitah Mithavayani
Dean K. Moore
Amy Diana Morris
Jackson Huntley Nash
Diamond Alexis Nimene
Austin O’Neill
Nikita Kiran Patel
Thomas A. Petrellese Jr.
Russell Alexander Preston
Jessica Jenese Regalado-Bailey, cum laude
Rachelle Alexandria Riley
Lindsey Noëlle Roberts
Grant Schrantz
Taylor Ciara Scott
Lauren Melissa Spencer, cum laude
Tishana M. Springer
Ashley Starnes, cum laude
Melanie C. Stepho
Michael Solomon Stewart
Steven C. Stodghill