PBN 2023 Business Women Awards
SOCIAL SERVICES/NONPROFIT WOMAN TO WATCH: Angelyne Cooper-Bailey | Cranston Municipal Court associate judge, R.I. Department of Labor and Training legal counsel and Roger Williams University School of Law adjunct professor
ANGELYNE COOPER-BAILEY is quite busy. She is a judge, professor, commissioner and attorney. But when she meets new people, she doesn’t like to talk about any of her roles.
“I sing in my car just like you sing in your car,” she said. “I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.”
Though her humility may be unmatched, Cooper-Bailey has a lot to brag about. In 2021, she made history becoming the first woman of color to serve on the Cranston Municipal Court as associate judge. Additionally, she works as legal counsel for the R.I. Department of Labor and Training, serves on the state’s human rights commission, sits on the boards of various nonprofits and teaches at Roger Williams University School of Law, her alma mater.
How does she do it all? “It’s hard,” she said. “I love doing different things.”
For Cooper-Bailey, the law’s breadth encourages varied interests. Even so, she does have one overriding mission, which is making the law more accessible, whether that’s in the classroom or the courtroom.
“I love teaching legal writing, teaching new students how powerful it can be,” she said. “We were all students at some point. I don’t want people to forget [that] the government works for you. When people appear before me, I hope they feel heard, respected and hopefully have the exhale moment.”
Cooper-Bailey credits U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals Judge O. Rogeriee Thompson as inspirational to her career. Thompson, the first Black person to serve in her position, may have seen a little bit of herself in Cooper-Bailey when she selected Cooper-Bailey for a clerkship.
“Those are highly coveted positions,” Cooper-Bailey said. With all the structural barriers working against her as a woman of color, she considered herself a long shot for the job.
But as a law student, Cooper-Bailey interned with Thompson during the latter’s tenure on the R.I. State Court, and “we just hit it off,” she said.
Eventually, Cooper-Bailey would love to serve as a judge full time. But she also loves teaching and could further pursue that opportunity.
“I’ve been practicing law for almost 15 years,” she said. “Every day, I learn something new.”
