The powerful new 10-minute documentary short Love, Law, Legacy will premiere on February 22, 2025, at the Cooley Law School Black Law Students Association's Annual Black History Month Ball. This compelling film, created by Joseline Jean-Louis Hardrick, a lawyer, professor, and passionate advocate for Black history, spotlights the groundbreaking achievements of Florida’s Black legal pioneers.
The documentary pays tribute to:
- Justice Peggy L. Quince – The first Black woman to serve on the Florida Supreme Court.
- Delano S. Stewart – The first Black attorney in the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office and founder of Florida's first racially integrated law firm.
- Arthenia L. Joyner – The longest-serving woman attorney in Florida, the first Black female attorney in Hillsborough County, and the first Black attorney in Polk County.
- Donald R. Odom – The first Black attorney at the City of St. Petersburg’s City Attorney’s Office and one of the first Black County Attorneys for Hillsborough County.*
The film, edited by Tamika R. Guishard, draws from the larger project "Journey to Esquire: An Oral History." Guishard, an alumna of NYU Tisch Graduate Film and Social Studies educator, utilizes her civic engagement and strategic communications acumen to convey this topic's urgency. Her company, Guishard Films, is a holistic media organization that partners with institutions and forward thinkers to craft immersive visual experiences through an equity-focused lens.
Love, Law, Legacy delivers a timely message about justice, representation, and the critical contributions of Black lawyers, elected officials, and judges. Its concise format makes it ideal for events and provides a powerful tool to inspire dialogue and reflection in ongoing national conversations about equity and diversity.
Following its premiere, the film will also be submitted to film festivals. Organizations interested in featuring this short documentary at their events can contact Joseline Jean-Louis Hardrick at [email protected] for more information.
To attend the premiere, purchase a ticket here.
*Please note the initial press release stated that Donald R. Odom was the first Black County Attorney for Hillsborough County. But George Butler was the first. We apologize for the error.
For press inquiries, please contact:
Joseline Jean-Louis Hardrick
Founder
Lawyerish® & Journey to Esquire®
813-906-6361
1 comment
This documentary sounds like a meaningful way to explore the connection between love, law, and the stories that shape communities. Short documentaries like this can bring important human experiences into focus while encouraging thoughtful discussion. For those interested in related legal information, https://harriscountycourts.org can also provide useful context. The premiere sounds like a great opportunity to reflect on the lasting impact of law and legacy.