Zenell Brown
As I am not of Arab American heritage, this has been a month of building upon what I know of Arab history and culture. I feel like a guest in someone’s home: I want to be respectful and not break anything, but I also don’t want my unfamiliarity or fear of embarrassment to prevent me from enjoying the conversations, company, and cultural experiences. Please forgive me in advance for any oversights and mistakes.
This month, the National Arab American Heritage Museum offers free admission. There are 22 Arab countries located in Asia and Africa. Arab countries are defined by language and culture, not religion. These 22 countries belong to the League of Arab States.
At the museum, there is a lunch counter display from the 1960s. I was immediately drawn to the familiar symbol of the 1960 civil rights movement and wondered about its significance to Arab American history. Business owner Ralph Johns was born to Syrian immigrant parents and settled in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1944 after being discharged from the military. Johns encouraged students at A&T University to challenge segregation. It is believed he tipped off the press on the first day of the sit-ins at Woolworth’s. Johns also joined the local NAACP chapter.
Affinity bar associations help bridge connections and welcome guests. The National Arab American Bar Association – Michigan Chapter (NAABA-MI) will host its Annual Gala on April 26. Attorney Reine Hamdar serves as president of NAABA-MI. The keynote speaker for the gala is attorney Suzanne Sukkar, a U.S. business immigration attorney at Dickinson Wright PLLC. Sukkar chairs Michigan’s Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs (CMEAA) and served as president of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan (WLAM) from 2016–2017.
On April 15, NAABA-MI hosted its fourth annual Khalta, where Lisa J. Hamameh, the 91st president of the State Bar of Michigan, received the Legacy Award. Hamameh is the first Palestinian American and the ninth woman to lead the bar.
Judge Charlene Elder of the Third Circuit Court is recognized as the first Arab American Muslim woman to serve on a high court in the United States. She was appointed in 2006 and has served in the Domestic Relations–Family Division since that time.
Chief Judge Sam Salamey leads the 19th District Court in Dearborn. He was elected to the bench in 2012. In 2023 and 2025, the Michigan Supreme Court appointed him chief judge of the 19th District Court.
Judge Helal A. Farhat serves as chief judge pro tem and presiding judge of the Family Division–Domestic Relations Section of the Third Circuit Court. He has served on the bench since 2019.
Judge Mariam Saad Bazzi was appointed to the Michigan Court of Appeals in 2025. She previously served on the Third Circuit Court, where she presided over the Mental Health Court.
Fadwa A. Hammoud is the former chief deputy attorney general of Michigan and, as solicitor general, argued before the United States Supreme Court.
This is just a small list of judges and lawyers of Arab American heritage who contribute to the metro Detroit legal community.
Prior to NAABA-MI gala, Michigan attorneys are invited to purchase tickets to the April 26, State Bar of Michigan Diversity and Inclusion Committee (DIAC) Annual Brunch for Bar. This event gives attorneys and members of all affinity, geographical, and specialty bar associations an opportunity to network and have meaningful discussions. This year’s Brunch for Bars includes a collaborative discussion on legal deserts throughout the state.
This month, the National Arab American Heritage Museum offers free admission. There are 22 Arab countries located in Asia and Africa. Arab countries are defined by language and culture, not religion. These 22 countries belong to the League of Arab States.
At the museum, there is a lunch counter display from the 1960s. I was immediately drawn to the familiar symbol of the 1960 civil rights movement and wondered about its significance to Arab American history. Business owner Ralph Johns was born to Syrian immigrant parents and settled in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1944 after being discharged from the military. Johns encouraged students at A&T University to challenge segregation. It is believed he tipped off the press on the first day of the sit-ins at Woolworth’s. Johns also joined the local NAACP chapter.
Affinity bar associations help bridge connections and welcome guests. The National Arab American Bar Association – Michigan Chapter (NAABA-MI) will host its Annual Gala on April 26. Attorney Reine Hamdar serves as president of NAABA-MI. The keynote speaker for the gala is attorney Suzanne Sukkar, a U.S. business immigration attorney at Dickinson Wright PLLC. Sukkar chairs Michigan’s Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs (CMEAA) and served as president of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan (WLAM) from 2016–2017.
On April 15, NAABA-MI hosted its fourth annual Khalta, where Lisa J. Hamameh, the 91st president of the State Bar of Michigan, received the Legacy Award. Hamameh is the first Palestinian American and the ninth woman to lead the bar.
Judge Charlene Elder of the Third Circuit Court is recognized as the first Arab American Muslim woman to serve on a high court in the United States. She was appointed in 2006 and has served in the Domestic Relations–Family Division since that time.
Chief Judge Sam Salamey leads the 19th District Court in Dearborn. He was elected to the bench in 2012. In 2023 and 2025, the Michigan Supreme Court appointed him chief judge of the 19th District Court.
Judge Helal A. Farhat serves as chief judge pro tem and presiding judge of the Family Division–Domestic Relations Section of the Third Circuit Court. He has served on the bench since 2019.
Judge Mariam Saad Bazzi was appointed to the Michigan Court of Appeals in 2025. She previously served on the Third Circuit Court, where she presided over the Mental Health Court.
Fadwa A. Hammoud is the former chief deputy attorney general of Michigan and, as solicitor general, argued before the United States Supreme Court.
This is just a small list of judges and lawyers of Arab American heritage who contribute to the metro Detroit legal community.
Prior to NAABA-MI gala, Michigan attorneys are invited to purchase tickets to the April 26, State Bar of Michigan Diversity and Inclusion Committee (DIAC) Annual Brunch for Bar. This event gives attorneys and members of all affinity, geographical, and specialty bar associations an opportunity to network and have meaningful discussions. This year’s Brunch for Bars includes a collaborative discussion on legal deserts throughout the state.
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