South Florida legal leader and civil rights attorney Melba Pearson has been named chair of the American Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Section (CJS), a national network of more than 15,000 legal professionals.
In her new role, Pearson will guide the section’s mission to tackle complex legal issues and promote justice nationwide. The CJS includes prosecutors, public defenders, judges, law professors, and other legal professionals who collaborate on research, policy recommendations, and advocacy before state and federal decision-makers.
Pearson currently serves as director of prosecution projects at Florida International University’s Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy, where she co-manages the MacArthur Foundation–funded Prosecutorial Performance Indicators project. The initiative works to improve fairness, efficiency, and transparency in prosecutorial offices across the country.
A familiar face in South Florida’s legal and advocacy circles, Pearson spent three years as deputy director of the ACLU of Florida, where she helped lead the successful campaign to pass Amendment 4 in 2018, restoring voting rights to people with felony convictions. She also worked on criminal justice reform, policing issues, and voter access.
Before her ACLU tenure, Pearson served 16 years as a Miami-Dade assistant state attorney, prosecuting serious domestic violence cases, homicides, and career criminal cases. She also re-launched the State Attorney’s Community Prosecution Unit to partner with residents on crime prevention and outreach. In 2020, she ran as a progressive candidate for Miami-Dade state attorney.
Pearson’s leadership extends well beyond the courtroom. She is a past president of the National Black Prosecutors Association and the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association, as well as a former vice chair of the Florida Justice Center. She has lectured and spoken nationally on prosecution, criminal justice reform, and legal trends, appearing on outlets including Court TV, Law & Crime, and the MeidasTouch Network.
With her new position at the ABA, Pearson adds another milestone to a career dedicated to advancing justice and community empowerment.
This is a Hy-Lo News Staff Report.
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