Legal professional Roland Lee Coleman Jr., the second Black individual to steer the Los Angeles County Bar Assn., has died. He was 74.
Coleman additionally served as president of the John M. Langston Bar Assn. of Los Angeles, based within the Twenties to serve and assist Black attorneys excluded from different bar associations.
Coleman as soon as recounted being advised {that a} Black legal professional couldn’t win instances in Glendale or Fullerton. Within the face of racism, “I actually believed I needed to be higher than anyone else,” he stated.
Within the courtroom, “he knew each rule from side to side,” stated Ian Stewart, an legal professional who labored with Coleman on the legislation agency Wilson Elser. However “his model was one the place he may actually join.”
He was tenacious, Stewart stated, however “he’d do it with a smile on his face.” In the event you had been on the alternative aspect of a authorized battle, “you’d find yourself shaking fingers and strolling away buddies.”
Coleman grew up in Los Angeles, one among 4 kids. As an adolescent at Los Angeles Excessive Faculty, he was “maybe the preferred individual on campus,” stated Earl E. Thomas, a good friend and fellow legal professional. Jackie Herod, one other longtime good friend, stated he was often known as a pointy scholar who ran lengthy distance and joined an array of golf equipment, together with cheerleading and debate.
Thomas stated that at events, “Roland would get in the course of the ground, and he would begin dancing,” doing the latest strikes as everybody shaped a circle round him to observe. “Lots of people would say the occasion didn’t begin till Roland received there.”
Coleman graduated from the College of Southern California and Loyola Legislation Faculty. He labored for the Los Angeles metropolis legal professional’s workplace after which for the California Division of Transportation earlier than being employed at Wilson Elser, the place he turned a associate.
“He was a celebrity,” stated Pat Kelly, who employed Coleman on the agency and labored carefully with him. “He may simplify tough points and clarify them in a commonsense approach.”
Past the courtroom, Coleman volunteered to help L.A. County residents as freeway building was “wreaking havoc on the residents locally,” serving to them to handle complaints about noise and different hazards, stated U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles).
Along with his assist, “we pressured Caltrans to arrange an workplace proper locally the place they might take care of complaints,” Waters stated. And when residents had been being displaced, “we had been capable of drive them to extend the presents for these properties. … Roland was principally liable for all of that.”
Coleman “simply took it on prefer it was his job,” stated retired Superior Court docket choose John Meigs Sr., who turned pals with him as a legislation scholar.
As president of the Langston Bar Assn., Coleman began a corridor of fame to honor folks within the authorized career who “persevered, sacrificed and — regardless of these obstacles and people hardships — succeeded,” stated retired choose Allen Webster, one other former president of the affiliation.
After the 1991 killing of Latasha Harlins, a 15-year-old Black lady who was shot by a Korean-born shopkeeper, the Los Angeles County Bar Assn. was divided on a recall marketing campaign in opposition to Choose Joyce A. Karlin, who sentenced the shopkeeper to probation. Coleman later advised the Metropolitan Information-Enterprise that many within the Los Angeles County Bar Assn. noticed the recall effort as an assault on the independence of the courts.
“I admire the independence of the courts, I perceive the will for that. However these sorts of issues of respect need to be a two-way avenue,” Coleman recalled telling leaders of the affiliation. Courts “need to respect the individuals who seem earlier than them.”
The affiliation determined to not weigh in in opposition to the recall.
“Inwardly, he was delicate to the sentiments and wishes of others. Outwardly, he was fearless and fierce in his dedication to pals, household and group,” his sister Carmen Freeman stated.
Coleman led the L.A. County Bar Assn. from 2001 to 2002, the second Black individual to carry the place because the group was based in 1878.
As president, “his focus was, ‘How can we higher assist the group that we serve?’” stated Danette Meyers, an legal professional who was lively with the affiliation.
Throughout his presidency, Coleman pledged to make attorneys obtainable professional bono to help victims of discrimination, becoming a member of state officers on the announcement of a hotline to report hate crimes. He additionally labored to enhance public entry to authorized companies.
“His voice had quite a lot of credibility,” stated Miriam Krinsky, who adopted him as county bar affiliation president. “When he chimed in on a difficulty, I actually needed to be sure that I used to be listening carefully.”
Later in life, Coleman suffered from well being issues and endured years of frustration as he tried to get onto the ready record for a donated kidney. The Instances chronicled his ordeal, which included tangling with a medical health insurance firm over the place he may very well be evaluated for a attainable transplant.
Coleman determined to change insurance coverage to enhance his probabilities and began driving for a ride-share firm to pay for greater premiums. He advised The Instances that on his first day as a driver, he started chatting with a passenger he picked up in North Hollywood, who promptly provided to donate a kidney if permitted.
“There was by no means a stranger in Roland’s life,” Herod stated.
Coleman by no means received a kidney transplant. However whilst he grew more and more unwell, he may make Herod giggle throughout cellphone calls.
“He would say, ‘Jackie, in the event you see a kidney operating round, catch it. Catch it for me, and I’ll decide it up.’”
Coleman is survived by his spouse, Evelyn Jenkins Coleman, son Roland Coleman III (also referred to as R.J.), stepson Jeremy Jenkins, sister Carmen Freeman and brother Lorin Coleman.
