Taft pro bono director Monica Fennell was recently quoted in an article by the Butler Collegian, titled “First Black woman appointed to the Supreme Court.” In the article, Fennell discusses the historical significance and impact of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation.

“Justice Ginsburg gave us all some history about women in the Court and she called Belva Lockwood ‘a woman of sense and steel’ and I think that’s a great description of all of the women who served on the Supreme Court and that applies equally to Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson,” Fennell said. She stated, “[Jackson] having that public defender background just brings an additional breadth of experience to the Court.”

As pro bono director, Fennell leads the pro bono program across Taft. This includes identifying and developing opportunities for the program, overseeing an integrated pro bono system across the firm, and ensuring that all Taft pro bono legal services are consistent with Taft’s values and commitment to improving the communities it serves. With over 30 years of experience in the legal industry, Fennell brings a trusted perspective to Taft’s pro bono program. She earned her B.A., cum laude, from Williams College and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. She also has a professional development certificate in peace and conflict studies as a Rotary Peace Fellow at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand.