DSC4040sRGB-1024x819Bradley Harper ’99 became the first African American in 22 years to be elected as a county judge in Palm Beach County, Florida when he won his race on Aug. 30.

Harper, a civil litigator with the Palm Beach firm Powers, McNalis, Torres, Teebagy & Luongo, defeated a better-funded and more experienced opponent to win the seat.

“I think it’s an important step in our community,” Harper told the Palm Beach Post newspaper. “We came together from all different parts of the community to make sure we have a fair judiciary and that it looks like our community.”

Harper has twice been a finalist for circuit judicial positions and is active in the Palm Beach County community where he is a sixth-generation resident.  Heavily involved in a number of community service activities, Harper is a past winner of the Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. “Man of Excellence” award and was named a Legal Services Trailblazer by the Success South Florida “40 Under 40.”