Laura Coates Inducted as Honorary Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha

Laura Coates, CNN’s chief legal analyst and anchor, has been inducted as an Honorary Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. The induction took place today during the Sorority’s 2025 Leadership Seminar in Anaheim, California, honoring a class of four distinguished women, each a barrier-breaker in her field.

Coates holds the distinction of being the first African American woman to serve as CNN’s chief legal analyst. Known for her sharp legal insight and constitutional expertise, she regularly appears across the network on prime-time specials and town halls. In addition to her CNN work, she is the host of the award-winning The Laura Coates Show on SiriusXM, where she interviews political leaders and dives deep into the intersection of law and public life.

Before her rise in media, Coates served as a federal prosecutor and later as an adjunct law professor. She is the bestselling author of Just Pursuit and You Have the Right, and a graduate of Princeton University and the University of Minnesota Law School. A native of Saint Paul, Coates is respected nationally for her clear voice on justice, equity, and public policy.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® reserves Honorary Membership as its highest honor, awarded only to those who exemplify its values of scholarship, service, and sisterhood. Inductees are invited to fully participate in the Sorority’s programs and mentorship efforts.

“Welcoming these phenomenal women into our Sisterhood is a powerful testament to our legacy of distinction,” said International President & CEO Danette Anthony Reed, who led the induction ceremony. “Their voices and vision will further strengthen our mission of impactful service to all mankind.”

Laura Coates was inducted alongside three other distinguished women: Karine Jean-Pierre, former White House Press Secretary and senior advisor to President Joe Biden; Beverly Johnson, trailblazing supermodel, bestselling author, and entrepreneur; and Gabby Thomas, Olympic gold medalist and advocate for public health. Together, they represent a powerful class of 2025 Honorary Members who have each broken barriers in their respective fields.