Spotlight

Crystal Denise Harmon Elected to Judgeship in Savannah, Georgia

“I am informing you that I was elected as Judge in the Recorder’s Court of Chatham County in Savannah, Georgia. The election was May 21, 2024. I take office January 2025. Currently, I’m the Chief Judge in Garden City, Georgia and Pro Tem Judge in the Recorder’s Court of Chatham County.” 

Judge Crystal Denise Harmon 

BIO 

Judge Crystal Denise Harmon was born and raised in the state of Florida and attended The University of Central Florida. Later in the Spring of 2009, she obtained her law degree from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University College of Law. She is licensed to practice law in Georgia and Florida.  

Before residing in Chatham County, Georgia, Harmon served as a domestic violence prosecutor for the Dougherty County District Attorney’s Office in Albany, Georgia. While there she prosecuted misdemeanor and felony cases. After relocating to Chatham County, Harmon worked at the Chatham County District Attorney’s Office, where she initially served as the prosecutor for Recorder’s Court and then began prosecuting felony cases in Chatham County Superior Court. 

Harmon opened her private law practice in 2017. In addition to maintaining private practice, she served as the Solicitor for the City of Port Wentworth Municipal Court and the Public Defender for the Municipal Court in both Garden City and the City of Pooler. She also served as a federal court-appointed attorney for matters in the Federal District Court for the Southern District of Georgia.  

In 2022, Judge Harmon was appointed as Associate Judge in the Garden City Municipal Court. She currently serves as the Chief Judge. Judge Harmon also serves as a Pro-Tem Judge in the Recorder’s Court of Chatham County, and City of Pooler Municipal Court. On May 21, 2024, Judge Harmon was elected to the Recorder’s Court of Chatham County. Her term begins January 2025.  

Judge Harmon resides in Pooler. She has been a resident of Chatham County since 2014 and is a member of the historic First Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. Judge Harmon is a proud Rattler, former adjunct instructor at Savannah Technical College, a member of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys and the Port City Bar Association.  

ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY RAYCHELLE TASHER APPOINTED TO FFLA BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

MAITLAND, Fla. —FFLA has appointed Raychelle Tasher, Assistant U.S. Attorney at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, to its board of directors for a three-year term beginning July 1, 2024. Tasher represents the United States in bankruptcy and civil litigation matters. She was previously an associate in the New York office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP where she represented debtors in complex Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases. She also served as a law clerk to Chief Bankruptcy Court Judge Kathy A. Surratt-States for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Tasher earned her law degree from Florida A&M University College of Law. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the ABA Business Bankruptcy Membership, Marketing and Webinar Committee. Tasher also chairs the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for the Bankruptcy Bar Association of the Southern District of Florida and is immediate past chair of the Lawyers Advisory Committee for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida. She is incoming vice chair of The Florida Bar’s Federal Court Practice Committee and is a board member for the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. Bar Association. For her commitment to public service, Tasher received the National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division “Outstanding Public Service” Award.

FAMU Law Alumnus Juna Pulayya Appointed to Judgeship by Governor 

ORLANDO, Fla – Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law alumnus Juna Pulayya was recently appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to serve as a judge on the Osceola County Court in the Ninth Judicial Circuit. 

“When I learned about my appointment as a judge to the Osceola County bench I was deeply humbled and honored,” said Pulayya.  “I am looking forward to continuing to give back to my community in this position and to serve the citizens of Osceola County. The role of the legal system in our community is vital to our country’s democratic system and I feel privileged to be able to be a part of that system.”  

Pulayya has served as magistrate for juvenile dependency, juvenile truancy, and child and family in need services for the Ninth Judicial Circuit. 

Pulayya has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida in history, a master’s degree in education from the University of Florida, a master’s degree in marriage and family counseling from Stetson University and his Juris Doctor from FAMU College of Law in 2009. 

The opportunity to work while attending the evening program at FAMU Law helped him reach his career goals.  “During my time at FAMU Law, I was able to make connections with my now colleagues, as well as make lasting connections with some of my professors,” Pulayya said.  “FAMU Law is the school that gave me the chance to sit for the bar exam and begin my legal career. For that, I’m grateful.”  

For FAMU College of Law Associate Provost and Interim Dean Cecil Howard, the alumni accomplishments are the perfect motivator for the law school student body. “It’s always great to hear about the professional accomplishments of our law school alumni,” said Howard.   

Pulayya added, “I hope others will see with hard work, determination, perseverance, and faith you can achieve anything you wish in this great country. I am living proof we can achieve our goals if we are willing to put in the time. I also believe that surrounding yourself with those that love and support you is important to your individual success. I am full of gratitude and appreciation for all those that have assisted me along the way to get me to where I am today.”  

FAMU Law Alumnus Jeramy Beasley Appointed to Judgeship by Governor 

Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law alumnus Jeramy Beasley was recently appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to serve as a judge on the Orange County Court in the Ninth Judicial Circuit. Beasley is filling the position previously held by Andrew Bain, who is also a FAMU Law alumnus. “We are always delighted to hear about the well-deserved professional accomplishments of our law school alumni,” said FAMU College of Law Associate Provost and Interim Dean Cecil Howard. The West Palm Beach native is an associate with Garganese, Weiss, D’Agresta & Salzman, P.A. and represents both public and private entities in a variety of matters including civil rights disputes, construction defect claims, first-party property claims, and personal injury claims. “In receiving notification that I was being appointed to the bench by the Governor, I was overcome with a mixture of emotions,” said Beasley. “Not only was I excited for the new journey, I was also grateful for the confidence placed in my ability to fulfill the duties of a jurist and appreciative of the opportunity to continue my public service.” Beasley earned his Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from the University of Central Florida. Beasley attended the evening program at FAMU College of Law, where he obtained his Juris Doctorate. While in law school, Beasley also worked full-time as a judicial assistant for Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge Greg Tynan. “For me, it is indisputable FAMU College of Law played an integral role in preparing me for my legal career goals. From the first day of classes and throughout my law school career, it was consistently reinforced to think critically, remain prepared, operate with professionalism, and always strive to keep your reputation intact. It is through these lessons and experiences I was able to transcend to the point in which I am today,” Beasley said. The reestablished FAMU College of Law has produced more than 2800 graduates who are lawyers and leaders, produced more than 1100 licensed minority attorneys in Florida, produced 12 sitting judges in Florida, Georgia and Missouri, and produced one sitting state attorney.