College of Law student becomes first from FAMU to clerk at the Florida Supreme Court
Ta’Ronce Stowes, third-year FAMU College of Law student, has become the first from FAMU to Clerk for the Florida Supreme Court.
By Robin Holmes and Pamela Tolson
ORLANDO, FL – Ta’Ronce Stowes, a third-year Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law student from Severn, Md., has accepted a position as a Law Clerk for the Honorable Justice James E.C. Perry of the Florida Supreme Court in Tallahassee, Fla., becoming the first College of Law student to clerk at the Florida Supreme Court. He will begin the Clerkship in August.
“This is a fantastic accomplishment for Mr. Stowes,” said FAMU College of Law Dean LeRoy Pernell. The historic clerkship selection is a testament that more legal organizations are taking note of the talent developed here at the FAMU College of Law.”
Prior to attending the College of Law, Stowes served as a Distinguished Fellow for the U.S. Department of State, where he worked domestically in Washington, D.C. at Main State, and abroad at the U.S. Consulate in Cape Town, South Africa. He received a B.S. degree in business management from Hampton University.
“The main reasons why I chose to attend the FAMU College of Law are twofold,” Stowes explained. The legislative mission to increase diversity within the profession reflects the consistent notion that being sub-merged in ethnically diverse atmospheres throughout my life has shaped me into the culturally competent individual that I am today.”
Stowes notes his second reason for attending the College of Law was based on the unique training offered that would enable him “to provide the highest degree of legal representation to people from historically underserved communities.”
While attending the College of Law, Stowes served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Elizabeth E. Foote for the Western District of Louisiana. He also clerked for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida as well as Hylton, Adamson, Watson & Moore, PLLC, a trial firm in Orlando, Florida. He has participated in several Moot Court Competitions as a brief-writer and oralist.
He also served on the editorial boards of the Southern Region Black Law Students Association Law Journal and the FAMU Law Review, where his student note has been published.
“Every night I prayed that the Lord continued to show his purpose in life and my role in it,” Stowes said. Given the opportunity of being the first FAMU student to clerk at the Florida Supreme Court, I felt it was incumbent upon me to pur-sue the opportunity not only for the historical prestige, but more importantly because of the chance to contribute to the continuing success of the College of Law.”
The FAMU College of Law recently exceeded the state bar pass average for the highest first-time pass rate in its history at 82.6 percent.
The College of Law bested five of the 11 schools reported, including Florida Coastal, Nova Southeastern and the University of Florida.
Prior to applying for the clerkship, Stowes consulted College of Law alum Aaron Brown, who now serves as an attorney in Jacksonville. With Brown being the first College of Law student to serve as a judicial intern with Justice Perry, and given his insight as to his experience, Stowes chose to follow in Brown’s footsteps.
“After several motivating conversations with Aaron Brown, I became galvanized to continue building upon the legacy that he had commenced,” he said.
