Noceeba Southern is a former (retired) state court judge in Detroit, Michigan.  She currently serves as a federal administrative law judge in Columbus, Ohio.  Since making Columbus her hometown, Noceeba has served on the board for the Litigation Section of the Ohio State Bar Association, Guardian Ad Litem for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), member of the United Way of Central Ohio’s steering, WLC, and Key Club membership committee.  She also served as a fellow and advisory board member of the African American Leadership Academy (AALA), fellow of the United Way’s Project Diversity, and advisory board member for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), and LeaderSpark.  Noceeba currently serves as a trustee board member for the Ohio Women’s Bar Association (OWBA). 

 Judge Southern’s servant leadership in Columbus is a natural extension of the service she demonstrated during her time in Michigan.  A native of Detroit, Judge Southern was appointed by the Governor and thereafter elected to serve as a Judge of the 36th Judicial District Court in Michigan.  She also served as an Assistant United States Attorney at the United States Attorney’s Office in Detroit, where she prosecuted fraud and other economic crimes.  Her unyielding commitment to the community was reflected through her service as the former president of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan – Wayne County, former regional director of the National Bar Association’s Region Six, former state representative of the National Black Prosecutor’s Association, former secretary for the Wolverine Bar Association, former bar examination grader for the Michigan Board of Law Examiners, and former hearing panelist for the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board. 

Judge Southern is a graduate of the University of Michigan where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees.  She obtained her Master of Laws from the University of Alabama.  Judge Southern is married to Justin Letts and they have three wonderful children, Sydney, Nelson, and Jocelyn.