Charles Ogletree, a civil rights attorney and social justice advocate who mentored former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama, has died at 70 years old.
According to Harvard Law School, Ogletree, who was also a professor, died on Friday from Alzheimer’s disease at his home in Odenton, Md.
In addition to being a mentor to the Obama’s, during Ogletree’s career he also represented Tupac Shakur, and victims of the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921.
“Michelle and I are heartbroken to hear about the passing of our friend Charles Ogletree,” Barack Obama tweeted Saturday. “He was an advocate for social justice, an incredible professor, and a mentor to many – including us.”
Ogletree was born in Merced, Calif., in 1952. He earned his degree from Harvard Law School in 1978 before working as an attorney for the District of Columbia Public Defender Service. He returned to Harvard Law as a lecturer in 1984, according to Harvard.
Ogletree also founded the Criminal Justice Institute near the Boston area and the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard Law School.
He is survived by his wife Pamela Barnes, his children Charles J. Ogletree III and Rashida Ogletree-George, four grandchildren and siblings.
Corey Arvin is Editor of BLK News Now! His journalism experience includes Television, Newspapers, and Digital Media as a Writer, Reporter, Content Producer, and Digital Producer. Some of those media outlets include CBS Phoenix (KPHO), NBC4 Los Angeles, ABC7 Los Angeles, California Black Media, SCNG, and more. He can be reached at Corey@BLKNewsNow.com.