Diane Menashe

About: Diane Menashe has spent her career working to ensure that the criminal justice system is fair and equitable to all. She has been a criminal defense attorney for 22 years in Ohio with a focus on death penalty cases—most recently she tried the capital cases of Brian Golsby (2018) and Quentin Smith (2019). In the summer of 2020, Menashe worked to clear the records of many people arrested during protests following the killing of George Floyd. Menashe’s role also includes oversight of Ice Miller’s litigation training and pro bono programs, and she’s on the firm’s Racial Justice Task Force and Diversity and Inclusion Council.

Outside of work: Columbus Police Chief’s Advisory Panel; chair of Ohio State Bar Association’s Access to Justice Committee; former board member with Franklin County Based Correctional Facility and Dress for Success.

What does Columbus need to thrive? Our companies and corporations need to increase their community involvement with organizations addressing racism, poverty and diversity. We need to have more difficult conversations as a city and increased transparency as to where we are as a city in terms of programming and spending and compare that to where we want to be as a city.

Menashe’s idea: I’d work with the other 49 class members to help everyone identify one community partner or nonprofit organization that they feel passionately about. I would then create an easily accessible list of all 50 organizations with a description of what they do and how people and companies can become involved. I would then circulate the list to all 49 of my classmates for repeat distribution. I would also do my part as the group’s pro bono director to support the list and encourage participation and engagement.