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The lawyer must be admitted to practice in Louisiana, the judge must have been elected or
appointed to a state or federal court in Louisiana, the lawyer or judge can be on active or inactive
status and from any practice setting, and the lawyer or judge cannot be a current member of the
LSBA Committee on Diversity in the Legal Profession.

The criteria is as follows:

The Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson Trailblazer Award recipient should demonstrate a
unique blend of experience, skills, and accomplishments which translate into successful diversity
and inclusion efforts which include, but are not limited to, the following:

Supporting and encouraging attorneys who are members of an unrepresented group within the
legal profession to reach their career and personal potential;
Ensuring opportunities for the advancement of diverse people through mentoring efforts and
diversity outreach;
Commitment to addressing issues of equality, fairness and injustice in the legal profession;
Participation in community service activities which promote and broaden the diversity pipeline to
the legal profession.

Nomination period: October – February
Formerly, the Trailblazer award recognized members of the Bar from a group underrepresented
within the Louisiana legal profession. The criteria is as follows:
Consideration of the nominee’s achievements, commitment, vision, courage, and tenacity in one
or more of the following ways:

Becoming the first member of an underrepresented group within the legal profession to achieve a
notable level of excellence or leadership within the legal professional under circumstances that
made this accomplishment extraordinary;
Supporting and encouraging attorneys who are members of an underrepresented group within the
legal profession to reach their career and personal potential and ensuring opportunities for the
advancement of diverse people;
Advocating for the rights of diverse people under circumstances that made this activity
extraordinary.

Formerly the Human Rights award recognized a bar association, law firm or law department, an
individual attorney or judge, a court, and a community organization or individual. The criteria
was as follows:

Recognize outstanding efforts made in promoting diversity in the legal profession, in particular,
to recognize efforts ensuring the full and equal opportunity of all persons for entry and

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