Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) proudly congratulates Antonio C. Lee, Class of 2014, on his recent appointment as President of the Cook County Bar Association (CCBA), one of the nation’s oldest associations of African American lawyers and judges. Founded in 1914, the CCBA has long served as a pillar of advocacy, mentorship, and legal excellence, and Mr. Lee’s leadership marks a continued commitment to those values.
Mr. Lee is currently an Assistant United States Attorney in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana, part of the U.S. Department of Justice. His legal career is characterized by public service, leadership, and unwavering dedication to justice. Prior to his current role, he served as an Assistant State’s Attorney at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, where he litigated torts and civil rights cases across state, appellate, and federal courts.
Mr. Lee’s career trajectory includes his selection into the prestigious U.S. Presidential Management Fellows program. During his fellowship, he served as Attorney Advisor to a former Commissioner and Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and worked on complex national employment discrimination issues. He also held roles at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Justice – Community Relations Service.
In addition to his prosecutorial work, Mr. Lee is deeply involved in legal leadership and service. He is a Commissioner on the American Bar Association’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Commission, Chief-of-Staff to the National Bar Association’s (NBA) President, Chair of the NBA’s LGBTQ Division, and serves on multiple bar association committees and councils, including the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism’s Advisory Council to eliminate bullying in the legal profession. He also dedicates his time to mentoring and tutoring law students preparing for the bar exam.
Mr. Lee is licensed to practice law in Georgia, Illinois, and the District of Columbia. He earned his undergraduate degree from Ball State University and graduated cum laude from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School in 2014.
In recognition of his work, Mr. Lee has received numerous awards, including the NBA’s “40 Under 40: Nation’s Best Advocate” Award, the NBA Young Lawyers Division Humanitarian Award, and multiple honors from the CCBA, including the Inaugural Next Generation Award in 2023. Most recently, in March 2024, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School.
Reflecting on his legal education, Mr. Lee shared,
“Throughout my studies at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, I learned valuable skills that challenged my legal reasoning and advanced my career. As a proud distinguished alumnus, I am empowered to not only apply those lessons, but lift others as I climb.”
Mr. Lee’s appointment to lead the CCBA stands as a testament to his professional excellence, community impact, and commitment to equity in the legal field. The AJMLS community celebrates his achievements and looks forward to the continued influence of his leadership.