Midwin Charles, a leading defense attorney and legal analyst for CNN and MSNBC, died on Tuesday.
She was 47.
Her family announced the sad news in a statement posted to Charles’ official Twitter account.
“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,” the statement continued. “Please allow the family time to grieve.”
After graduating from Syracuse University, Charles, who received her law degree from American University, founded the law firm Midwin Charles & Associates LLC.
She contributed to Essence Magazine and was a commentator on CNN, HLN, MSNBC, Bloomberg TV and other media outlets and was a CNN legal contributor for “In Session,” a program which aired legal commentary for live trials.
On Wednesday morning, friends of Charles’ took to Twitter to pay tribute to the beloved attorney.
“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 wrote alongside a picture of them together. “Blessings to your mom and family. To all, please live every moment like it’s your last, and OVER-appreciate your friends.”
“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.
White House Correspondent Yamiche Alcindor tweeted, “This is so, so hard. @MidwinCharles — my Haitian sis — was a brilliant mind and a beautiful person who worked so hard. Her voice and presence will be deeply missed.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with her loved ones at this difficult time.
