University of Florida Law Student Appointed First Black Woman Chief Justice

Britney Deas has carved her place in history as the first Black woman chief justice of the University of Florida (UF) Supreme Court.

The 25-year-old Floridian and Haitian law student moved into the position this year around the start of Black History Month after serving as an associate justice in 2023, The Alligator reported. The new chief justice has taken the helm of overseeing hearings, appeals, disputes, and ensuring fairness alongside four associate judges.

Deas plans to hold panels and invite esteemed legal professionals to the university to engage law students.

The University of South Florida (USF) undergraduate alumna said about her trailblazing appointment, “Breaking down barriers for Black women and women in general has always been profoundly and deeply meaningful to me.”

Her passion for empowering women of color in leadership is evident through Deas’ past roles. At USF, she became the first Black student body president. Also, at the time, the university had not elected a female student body president in 20 years.

Deas said, reflecting on her past roles, “Once I saw someone who looked like me do something, I realized I could do it too.” She aims to provide that inspiration for others coming after her. According to The Alligator, she added, “You can see the chain reaction that [representation] sets forth” when commenting that USF’s next two leaders after her were also women.

Joanna Auchettl, the new chief justice’s adviser, told the outlet that Deas has always pursued her ambitions, from homemade t-shirts to centerfield baseball stadium honors. Auchettl said she has “tried to encourage and support all of [Deas’] endeavors. It is exciting to learn about [Deas’] accomplishments.”

Deas shared with The Alligator that she is inspired by the women in her family. “I was always inspired by women fighting oppression and women who are standing up for people who cannot stand up for themselves.”

She is paying it forward and firmly believes in the power of representation. “I saw it in my home with my grandmother, my great-grandmother, and my mother,” the new chief justice said to The Alligator.

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