Arthur Burnett Sr., 89.  Born in 1935 in Spotsylvania County, VA, Judge Burnett attended John H. Wright High School, Howard University, Summers College, and New York University Law School.

A trailblazer, Burnett was a litigant in a lawsuit to desegregate the University of Virginia School of Law.  After law school, Judge Burnett hosted a radio program with the legendary Congressman Adam Clayton Powell of New York.  From 1961 to 1964, he served in the Department of Justice as an aide to Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.   Following the 1968 Riots, Judge Burnett worked as a legal advisor to the DC Metropolitan Police Department to promote equality and fairness in our criminal justice system. 

For his efforts, Burnett was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia as the first African-American to hold the position of United States Magistrate Judge in 1969.  There, he worked to reform bail practices and preliminary hearings and to promote judicial education to bring about equality in the treatment to all persons appearing in the federal court system.   Later, he was selected as an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.  Judge Burnett served in this post for 17 years.

Judge Burnett is also affectionately known as the father of the father of the important men’s health medication Viagra.  His son, Arthur Burnett, Jr. is a renowned John’s Hopkins urologist who is credited for inventing and patenting Viagra. 

More information on Judge Burnett can be found at: https://dcchs.org/sb_pdf/burnett-bio/

Jimi brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to youth and community development.  Jimi steps into the Board seat left vacant by the passing of the Honorable Judge Arthur Burnett Sr. late last year.