Legal Careers of Graduates

Yvette McGee Brown

President, The Center for Child and Family Advocacy
Children's Hospital
Columbus, Ohio

On January 7, 2002, Yvette McGee Brown became the President of The Center for Child and Family Advocacy at Children's Hospital. The Center is a collaboration between Children's Hospital and the Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence, founded by Abigail Wexner. It is an incredible opportunity to do something for the families in our community who experience violence in their households.

The Center will bring together, in one building, police, prosecutors, children services caseworkers, domestic violence advocates, and Children's Hospital medical staff. The Center will provide prevention, training, education, research, and advocacy along with treatment. The goal is to break the cycle of violence that engulfs so many of our youngest citizens.

Formerly a Judge in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court (1993-2002), she was first elected in 1992. She was also the first African-American and the second woman to be elected to this Court.

Yvette McGee Brown distinguished herself as the Lead Juvenile Judge. In that capacity, she spearheaded the SMART program, a truancy and educational neglect prevention program now operating in over 40 elementary schools. She also initiated the creation of a Family Drug Court.

Not only is she committed to improving the lives of young people, she is also dedicated to making our community a better place to live. In that regard, she serves on various philanthropic boards in our community, such as the United Way of Central Ohio as Chair of the Board, the Limited/Intimate Brands Foundation, the Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence, The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, the YWCA, I KNOW I CAN Board of Trustees, the Ohio Principals Leadership Academy Governing Board, and The Ohio State University College of Law's National Alumni Council.

Yvette McGee Brown began her public service career as an Ohio Assistant Attorney General. She went on to become Chief Counsel of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and, thereafter, Chief Counsel of the Ohio Department of Youth Services. Immediately prior to being elected to the bench, she was a partner in the law firm of Turner, Wright, & McGee.

An accomplished member of the bench, Yvette McGee Brown has been honored for her public service and community activism. To name a few, she has received the William Oxley Thompson Alumni Award from The Ohio State University; the Medal of Merit Alumni Award from Ohio University; the Champion of Children Award from the Columbus Montessori Education Center; the YWCA Woman of Achievement Award; the Rhonda Rivera Human Rights Award from Stonewall Union; and the Junior League Community Service Award.

Yvette McGee Brown is a native of Columbus, Ohio and is a graduate of Mifflin High School. She received her undergraduate degree in Journalism/Public Relations from Ohio University in 1982 and her Juris Doctorate from The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law in 1985.

Yvette McGee Brown is married to a public school teacher and has three children.