Midwin Charles, CNN and MSNBC Legal Analyst, dies at 47

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Midwin Charles, attorney and legal analyst for CNN, MSNBC and other media outlets, died Tuesday April 6 at the age of 47, her family announced.

Statement on Midwin Charles death

“It is with a profoundly heavy heart and the deepest sadness that we announce the untimely passing of our beloved Midwin Charles,” their announcement read.

“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 to grieve.”

Legal career

Charles was a prominent defense attorney and the founder of the law firm Midwin Charles & Associates. She contributed to Essence Magazine and was a commentator law, pop culture and politics on MSNBC, CNN, HLN, TV One Bloomberg TV, The Wendy Williams Show, and other media outlets, according to her website.

In addition, she was a CNN legal contributor for “In Session” offering legal commentary for live trials.

Charles was a graduate of Syracuse University who received her law degree from American University, Charles founded the law firm Midwin Charles & Associates LLC.

She was a member of the Dean’s Diversity Council for American University’s Washington College of Law, served on the board at Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN). She served as a member of the Civil Rights Committee for the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, lectured at Syracuse University and wrote for HuffPost.

Following the news of her death, Charles’ friends and peers expressed shock and grief, and paid tribute to her on social media.

“Midwin dear heart, you were a brilliant spirit and beautiful soul. You were such a blessing. I’m just stunned, and have been since I learned of this today,” MSNBC’s Joy Reid said. “Blessings to your mom and family. To all, please live every moment like it’s your last, and OVER-appreciate your friends.”

“This is simply devastating. Midwin was such a wonderful, brilliant, kind, and beautiful soul. Our hearts are broken,” activist and commentator Marc Lamont Hill said.

“Midwin was my friend. We worked together on In Session/Court TV. She was a brilliant beautiful legal mind. I will miss her and am praying for her family and especially for her mother whom she adored and spoke of so often. Rest my dear friend,” “The View” co-host Sunny Hostin wrote