The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Woman to be admitted to U.S. Supreme Court Bar
A Lorain native is being admitted as a member to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar.
Nichole Francis Reynolds, 47, will be admitted at 10 a.m., Feb. 21, in Washington, D.C.
The vice president and global head of government relations at ServiceNow Inc. is a lawyer by trade.
Her mentor Fred Graefe will be the movant for the ceremony.
“He's just become a longtime mentor of mine, and he made the recommendation that I become admitted to be a member,” Francis Reynolds said. “This is nothing I've ever thought of because I never knew it was possible.
“It wasn't until Fred recommended that I realized the sheer possibility.”
Francis Reynolds said she met Graefe while attending
The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 2001 as a summer associate of BakerHostetler.
“I'm so very proud of Nichole,” Graefe said. “She trained under me for around three or four years, caught on exceptionally well and now she's my boss.She's a remarkable woman who has gone above and beyond what many thought was possible.”
Francis Reynolds has been a member of the Tennessee and District of Columbia
bar associations for over five years and remains in good standing, which is a prerequisite to becoming a member of the U.S. Supreme Court bar.
Members of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar receive special seating in the courtroom, access to the court's library and a certificate of admission. Members also meet the justices.
Francis Reynolds said she believes education is a fundamental key to dreaming big.
“I believe access to a good education is really important because the more educated you become and what you learn along the way, can expand your mind to what's truly possible,” she said.
Francis Reynolds said she credits a lot of her success to her Friendship Baptist Church family in Lorain and village of mentors.
“My biggest motivator is my belief and faith in God; everything that I've learned and continued to learn from my church home in Lorain and various other churches I've been connected to,” she said. “Having people who believe in and are willing to strategize with me to reach my goals and dreams is almost as important as daring to dream big yourself.”
The ceremony can be viewed at C-Span.org.
“I’m so very proud of Nichole. She trained under me for around three or four years, caught on exceptionally well and now she’s my boss. She’s a remarkable woman who has gone above and beyond what many thought was possible.” — Fred Graefe, movant for ceremony