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Nina Ashenafi Richardson Becomes First Elected Ethiopian-American Judge

95 Comments

Tadias Magazine

By Tadias Staff

Published: Monday, March 16, 2009

New York (TADIAS) – Nina Ashenafi Richardson, an Ethiopian-American judge, who was elected to the Leon County bench in Florida on November 4th, 2008, is hard at work in the Sunshine State’s capital county.

She recently told the Tallahassee Democrat that although her workload is heavy, she is mindful of the responsibilities and privileges of her new position.

“At the county court level it’s a lot of volume, and you have to make sure you keep up with it,” she said of the plethora of criminal and civil cases that she now presides over. “I love it. Every time I come into the courthouse I continue to feel so privileged and honored to be here.”

Born in Ethiopia, Nina came to the U.S. as a young girl and was raised by her late father Professor Ashenafi Kebede, the renowned Ethiopian composer and musicologist, who was the Founder and first Director of the National Saint Yared School of Music in Ethiopia. In the United States, he taught Ethnomusicology and served as the Director of the Center for African-American Culture at Florida State University, where his daughter later earned her law degree. He was also the Director of the Ethiopian Research Council, comprised of Ethiopian and American academics and professionals, which was founded by African American scholar Leo Hansberry.

Judge Nina, a mother of two, who is married to former State Legislator Curtis Richardson, was also the the first African-American woman to head the Tallahassee Bar Association and the first African-American to lead the Tallahassee Women Lawyers (TWL).

Tadias congratulates Judge Nina Ashenafi Richardson on her accomplishments!


Judge Ashenafi Richardson was ceremonially assisted into her judicial robes by her husband Curtis B. Richardson, and daughters on Friday, January 30, 2009. ((Photo: Tallahassee Democrat)

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95 thoughts on “Nina Ashenafi Richardson Becomes First Elected Ethiopian-American Judge”

  2. Congratulations. I have no words to describe it how much I get proud when I hear my home boys and girls move up here in the US. This is a great achievement and you are a role model for immigrants who have the potential and work hard to reach their dreams. keep up the good work.

  3. With God all things are possible!
    I thank God for you, Judge Nina Ashenafi Richardson!
    I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

    When you have time, pls. read Jeremiah 29:-11-13
    Congratulations!

    Love,
    your Ethiopian sis. Beth from Des Moines,WA

  4. With all due respect,your honor,congradulations and GOD bless you and your family.

  5. I am a big fan of Professor Ashenafi Kebede. When I heard about his young girl’s achievement, I’m proud a lot..

    Dear Nina, I would like to say congratulation! I wish you a very good success!

    God bless you!

  6. Dear Woizero Nina Ashenafi,

    Many congraulations to you and all yours. As much as I am proud of your achievement and what you can give to the US, it is my prayer that God will give you wisdom as well as favour so that you would feel fulfilled at the end of each day.

  8. What a wonderful example for Ethiopians and all black women around the world. Congratulations, my sister!

  9. Dear Judge Ashenafi R., Nina I just want to say Congratulation on your big sucess. You made us so proud. Keep up your good work all the way with God’s help. You sister, M’aza

  10. What a wonderful news! I am so proud of you Judge Nina. You are a very good role model for many other Ethiopian-Americans. We hope and expect that you will do even much better than what you have accomplished now. I will keep you in my prayer. May The Almighty GOD be with you, Dr. Ashenafi and your lovely mom, and of course the rest of the family.

    Deacon Abiy

  11. Congrats Nina, I am sure your father would have been very proud of you. He was a great man, I heard a lot about him. You made us all proud. “Yes We Can”

  13. it comes up with responsibility.and i hope you will do a good job. i am proud of you and inspired by you. congragulations again. and may God bless you.

  14. Judge Nina, What a great honor for all Ethiopians. Let God be with you and your family always.

  15. What a proud for all of us.

    We look up to you and God bless all your way long.

    Aleazar from Ethiopia.

  16. Yes!!! News like this makes me so happy!! Ethiopians are going somewhere in this country and it’s only the beginning…in the future, we will see more and more intelligent and distinguished brothers and sisters. Proud of her and every other Habesha working towards a positive struggle.

  17. Our deepest congratulations!!! We really proud of you and you’re a true living example for many Ethiopian’s. All the very best in your every day life!! Wishing you one day to be able to go to the Supreme Court or even better to replace Chief Justice John G. Roberts!

  20. Congrats Judge Nina! As an Ethio-American myself, very proud of your achievement.

    One thing is sure, you are a judge in this wonderful nation, the United States of America, and as such you will not be harassed,pressured or swayed by authorities and other political forces one way or the other. Every morning you wake up, it will be in good conscious, to judge the fate of ‘alleged’ criminals based on your education professional ethics/judgment and last but not least the LAW OF THE LAND.

    Now, your fellow Ethiopian judges, such as Judge Birtukan Mideksa, are not as lucky as you are just because they are judges in Ethiopia.

    I’m wondering when that will change and a judge is a judge no matter where.

    Let me conclude my note with one open ended question: Now, what are you able to do, based on your profession and profession as a judge to the cause of th Ethiopian judges?

    God Bless.

  21. Very, Very, Very Proud of this accomplishment, Mom and Dad must have done a good job.

    Just keep the ball rolling.
    Big Smile on everybody’s face.
    God Bless you

  23. Congratulations Dear Judge,

    I am proud of you like all the other Ethiopians. Keep up the good work and let them know that we also have a beautiful and educated ladies in Ethiopia and all over the world. You are a celebrity keep up the good work. Dr. Ashenafi was a great man, Like father and like daughter. God Bless You.

  25. Congratulations! I am proud of you! God bless all your ways. You are the mirror of reflection for many of us.

  26. You are an inspiration to all of us. Motivator in your accomplishment. Thank you for all your sacrifices to get here. My daughter and I are proud of you.

  27. Congrats Nina, I thank the Almighty God that He gives us lots of talents like you. I heard a lot about your father. He was a good model for fathers. You made us all proud. Stay blessed.

  28. Congratulation Judge Nina A. Richardson! You deserve the honor and you do have self-evident, uncontested capacity to undertake such a high responsibility.

    Odaa (Your great dad’s ex-student and ex-neighbor in the city of origin, Finfinnee (Shaggar/Addis Ababa).

  30. You are a Hero woman like Obama! Congratulations! Do not for get Birtukan Medikesa and teddy afro.

    From Adama University, Ethiopia

  31. You are a pride to all Ethiopians. This will be a real encouragement to every Ethiopian in diaspora. Let we all cheer in her name& wish her a very successful endavor through out her career.

    Let God Bless us all!!!

    MULUGETA ASRAT, FROM DUBAI, UAE

  32. well done nina;
    i hope you will influence and support your people with your knowledge and experience.
    best of luck.

  33. congratulations Nina! I’m so proud of you, you are my inspiration and this is not the end of the road for all ladies in the world. thank you and may God bless all of us……

  37. Where is Mrs. Ashenafi, the mother of Nina Ashenafi in this story. The woman who elected and chose her culture, her nationality and Ethiopia, but forgotten. That is the woman I am more proud of.

  38. Pingback: Tadias’ Top 20 Most Read Stories of the Year at Tadias Magazine

  39. We are proud of u like we are of your father. Don’t forget your poor country Ethiopia.

  41. Judge Nina you inspire me as an African American woman of partial Ethiopian (Oromo) descent. I have passed your legacy down to my Ethiopian goddaughters.

    Also, what a wonderful family and father figure you have!

  42. Reply to “henok” – you have nooooo idea what you are talking about….

  43. …you should be proud of ALL women “Henok”! Congratulations to Judge Nina! This is a great encouragement and inspiration to ALL women indeed!

  44. I am proud of you. I am young lawyer in Ethiopia and your success inspires me. I appreciate you!

  45. I am so pround of you. I have no words to express my feeling! I did not know that you are the daughter of the renowned Ethiopian composer and musicologist, professor Ashenafi Kebede. I wish he were there! God bless you!!!!!

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