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Awards Background
On January 22, 2010, the LSBA Board of Governors approved a diversity award to recognize
outstanding efforts made by (1) a bar association, (2) law firm or law department, (3) an
individual attorney or judge, (4) a court, or (5) a community organization or individual in
promoting diversity in the legal profession, in particular, to recognize efforts ensuring the full
and equal opportunity of all persons for entry and advancement in Louisiana's legal profession.
It proposed that the diversity award should bear the name “Louisiana State Bar Association
Human Rights Award,” and be awarded by the Association annually during its annual meeting.

On April 19, 2013, the LSBA Board of Governors approved to amend the Human Rights Award
guidelines and criteria to allow the award to be presented annually in two categories - individual
and organization.

On February 19, 2013, the LSBA Board of Governors approved a diversity award to recognize
outstanding efforts made by members of the bar from a group underrepresented within the
Louisiana legal profession who have demonstrated excellence or accomplished greatness in the
face of great adversity. It proposed that the diversity award should bear the name “Louisiana
State Bar Association Trailblazer Award,” and be awarded by the Association annually during its
annual meeting.

On November 13, 2015, the LSBA Committee on Diversity in the Legal Profession approved
recommendations made by the Awards subcommittee on November 13, 2015. On January 15,
2016 the LSBA Board of Governors unanimously approved the following changes to the
Committee’s awards:

1. The Trailblazer and Human Rights Awards were combined. The new award now bears the
name “Louisiana State Bar Association Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson Trailblazer
Award.” It will be awarded by the Association annually at the LSBA Annual meeting.

The “Louisiana State Bar Association Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson Trailblazer Award”
shall recognize individual attorneys and judges who champion the ideals set forth by Chief
Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson, the first African American chief justice of the Louisiana
Supreme Court, who has always exhibited an unwavering commitment to enhancing diversity
and inclusion in the legal profession.

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.

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