St. Pete’s Finest: Judge Ramona Franklin

Ramona Franklin

HOUSTON – St. Pete native Ramona Franklin has been elected judge for the 338th Criminal District Court in Harris County in Houston, and will be sworn in next month.

The daughter of Villa Don and Mary Ann Franklin, she attended Lakewood High School and was a faithful member of Faith Memorial Missionary Baptist Church.

After high school she went on to Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University in Tallahassee where she majored in English and minored in criminal justice. Deciding to continue her education, she received a master’s degree in sports administration at Lynn University in Boca Raton, and a Juris Doctor degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Mich.

In law school Franklin participated in the Moot Court Competition and was awarded the Best Advocate Award. She participated in the Mock Trial Competition and served on the Moot Court and Mock Trial Executive Board, but she didn’t stop there.

She served as a Senate Representative, Law School Marshall, Cooley Ambassador and as the President of the Black Law Student Association.  She participated in the Cooley Clinic, Criminal Law Society, Faculty Committee, Student Bar Association, Grand Marshall all while making the Dean’s List.

Ramona Franklin

Franklin’s hard work did not go unnoticed. She received the Leadership Achievement Award and Litigation Award.

Following graduation from law school she moved to Houston and worked as an assistant district attorney at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office before entering into private practice in 2006, concentrating on criminal law, family law and estate planning.

She has handled an extensive variety of legal cases, but primarily focuses her practice on zealously advocating criminal cases.

Franklin appears on two weekly radio shows entitled “Don’t Judge Me,” on KVRN Radio and “The Law: Inside & Outside The Courtroom” on KJOZ Radio both in Houston.  She informs, educates and empowers listeners about the court system and many other relevant criminal justice Issues.

As if she’s not busy enough, Franklin in an adjunct professor at Remington College, teaching Criminal Justice Studies. With a passion for serving her community, she has volunteered in the Houston Volunteer’s Lawyer Program, NAACP Pro Bono Legal Defense Program and the Diamond In the Rough Mentor Program.

Working to complete her first book, Franklin is also a motivational speaker, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.

The Honorable Ramona Franklin’s Investiture and Swearing in Ceremony will be held Jan. 3, 2017, in the 338th Criminal District Court room.

Congratulations from The Weekly Challenger!