Honorable Charles A. Pratt
Kalamazoo County 8th District Court Judge
(1968-1980) 

"One lawyer told me that now colored people had a lawyer of their own. I told him that I was not a lawyer for the colored people, but for all the people. That I was a negro but did not want to be restricted because of that." -Judge Pratt 

On October 30, 2010 a group of Kalamazoo and Calhoun County area lawyers formally voted to establish the Judge Charles A. Pratt Bar Association. The organization is named after Kalamazoo County's first African American Judge.  In 1968, Judge Pratt was elected to serve in the 8th District Court. He served in that position until 1980. Judge Pratt was very active in the Kalamazoo community. He served on the boards of the Douglass Community Association and the Legal Aid Society to name a few. His legacy of service continues on in the members of the Pratt Bar Association. 

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Today Pratt Bar members are not only attorneys and judges, many members are active members of nonprofit and foundation boards, and volunteer in various parts of the community. Over the years, the organization has provided legal education  to the community, mentored aspiring lawyers and engaged in countless pro bono legal activies. As the organization continues to grow, it strives to continue to aid in the diversification of the legal community. 

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