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About Us
The J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association Is committed to legal excellence, community service, and the advancement of African-American minorities in the legal profession. Our membership consists primarily of African-American attorneys who live and/or work in Prince Georges and Montgomery counties.

The association was established in 1977 to advance the status of African American lawyers in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. Over 300 attorneys are affiliated with the j. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association. Collectively, we aspire to uphold our mission to:

  • Ensure the continuation of African Americans in the legal profession
  • Defend, protect, and assist in the cultural, socio-economic and political development of African American communities through the vehicle of the law
  • Educate the public about their rights and responsibilities under the law
  • Safeguard and preserve the historical continuation of African American attorneys in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties
  • Conduct continuing legal education programs relevant to African American attorneys

 

ASSOCIATION BYLAWS
01.
WE ARE CREATIVE & PROFESSIONAL
02.
WE ARE ALWAYS IMPROVING
03.
WE ARE A TRUSTED RESOURCE
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YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
OUR HISTORY

J. Franklyn Bourne

1917

The Honorable J. Franklyn Bourne was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey on March 24, 1917.  As a teenager, Judge Bourne attended Boys High School of Brooklyn and graduated with honors.

1940

J. Franklyn Bourne attended Lincoln University, where he graduated in 1940.  Later that year, Judge Bourne entered Dickinson Law School in Pennsylvania. 

1942-1945

Mr. Bourne left to join the United States Coast Guard, where he served from 1942 to 1945.

1948

In June 1948, Judge Bourne earned his law degree from Howard University School of Law and was admitted to the Maryland Bar that fall.  He opened his first law office in Baltimore, Maryland.

1950

In the early 1950s, Judge Bourne moved his practice to Prince George’s County, Maryland – becoming the first African American attorney with a law office in the County.

1957

In 1957, Judge Bourne partnered with the Honorable James H. Taylor (eventually the first African American judge to serve on the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County) to form a new law firm in Fairmont Heights.

1967

In 1967, Governor Spiro Agnew appointed Judge Bourne, as the first African American to serve as chairman of the Maryland Workmen’s Compensation Commission (now the Worker’s Compensation Commission), a quasi-judicial administrative agency. 

1970

In 1970, he was reappointed to that position by then Governor Marvin Mandel.

1971

In July 1971, Governor Mandel appointed Judge Bourne to serve on the newly-created District Court of Maryland.  Judge Bourne was one of the seven original judges selected to serve on the District Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland.

1972

On June 12, 1972, Judge Bourne died after suffering a massive heart attack.

1977

In recognition of his contributions to the practice of law in the State of Maryland, attorneys in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties formed the J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association, Inc. in 1977.  

1991

In 1991, the Upper Marlboro courthouse opened with a new District Court wing dedicated to Judge Bourne.