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Who was Midwin Charles? CNN and MSNBC legal analyst dies at 47, friends remember her as a 'beacon of justice'

'Speechless, Shocked & saddened by this sudden death of ⁦@MidwinCharles⁩, a great Haitian-American Lawyer. Midwin, you will be terribly missed,' a friend said

Midwin Charles, a CNN and MSNBC legal analyst, died at the age of 47 on Tuesday, April 6. Her family announced through her Instagram and Twitter handles. The reason for her death was not revealed.

The news came to light after Charles's Twitter account posted a message saying, "It is with a profoundly heavy heart and the deepest sadness that we announce the untimely passing of our beloved Midwin Charles. She was known to many as a legal commentator on television but to us, she was a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, niece and cousin. Our lives are forever changed and we will miss her for a lifetime. The family thanks you in advance for your love and prayers. Please allow the family time to grieve. The Family of Midwin Charles."

Several people who were close to her started tweeting about Charles. While some called her a "brilliant and beautiful mother" others titled her as a "beacon of justice", paying tribute to the late attorney.

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Ambassador Bocchit Edmond tweeted, "Speechless, Shocked & saddened by this sudden death of ⁦@MidwinCharles⁩, a great Haitian-American Lawyer. Midwin, you will be terribly missed. My deepest condolences to your family & friends. Rest in Peace Sister. ⁦@EmbassyOfHaiti." Writer Charlotte Clymer said, "I never had the honor of meeting Midwin Charles in person, but she was always so kind and thoughtful in our interactions and I was a fan of her work. I’m stunned. What a terrible loss for the world. Keeping her family in my thoughts."

NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver tweeted a picture with Charles and said, "Still in shock by the sudden passing of @MidwinCharles. A brilliant and beautiful woman, TV legal analyst on MSNBC and CNN, loyal board member of @HaitianRoundtbl. She will be missed. Condolences to her family." Another person named Sylvia  K Alston said, "Midwin Charles was a colleague, a friend and a frequent contributor to my show #NextNation Learning tonight of her untimely passing stopped me in my tracks. My deepest condolences to her family and all who experienced her gift. She was a beacon for justice. @MidwinCharles."

Who was Midwin Charles?

Born on July 17, 1973, and raised in Brooklyn, Midwin Charles was the founder of the law firm 'Midwin Charles & Associates LLC'. She was also a television personality and a Contributor to Essence Magazine. She used to be a regular commentator on law, pop culture and politics for various television shows and networks, including CNN, MSNBC, The Wendy Williams Show and is guest host for the radio program 'Express Yourself' on New York’s 107.5 WBLS and SIRIUS XM Radio.

She worked for CNN as a Legal Contributor for In Session (formerly Court TV) where she provided legal commentary for live trials daily. She is the author of 'Infinite Possibilities of the Law Degree', an annual forum that features top lawyers with dynamic careers.

Charles, who was very active in community affairs, was a member of the Dean’s Diversity Council for American University’s Washington College of Law and board member of Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN) and The Haitian Roundtable.

She has also worked as a member of the Civil Rights Committee for the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, lectured at Syracuse University, written for The Huffington Post, and was a frequent speaker at the Urban Assembly School for Law & Justice in Brooklyn, New York.

Charles did her bachelor's from Syracuse University and her law degree from the American University, Washington College of Law, where she was an Articles Editor for the American University Law Review.

"She has also served as a law clerk for US Court of Appeals for Sixth Circuit Judge Eric L Clay, as the A Leon Higginbotham, Jr Research Fellow in Social Justice at Harvard Law School, under the supervision of Charles J Ogletree, Jr, and an associate at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP. Charles recently received the 2018 Shining Star Award from the United States, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke," according to The Haitian Roundtable.