Historic legal society continues legacy of justice
7th October 2024 · 0 Comments
By Shawniece Mitchell
Contributing Writer
The Greater New Orleans Martinet Society and Legal Foundation hosted its 2024 Annual Jazz Brunch and Scholarship Gala on Sept. 28. Legal professionals, scholars and community leaders gathered to celebrate the next generation of legal minds.
The event took place at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in New Orleans and featured a jazz ensemble, elegant dining, and speeches from members of the legal community.
This year’s gala marked a significant milestone, as it celebrated the closure of Bianca N. Moore’s term as president of the New Orleans’ branch of the Martinet Society. Moore, who has led the organization for the past two years, reflected on her journey in her farewell address.
“Last year I stated that this year would be the year of more, and that’s exactly what we gave,” Moore said. “During the year of more, our society foundation endeavored to give three things specifically: more support, more camaraderie, and more service. Through the vigorous and tireless leadership of our community chairs and board members, we did just that. We gave you more.”
This year’s speaker was Alexander Pierre Tureaud Jr., who was the first African American admitted into Louisiana State University, and the son of Alexander Pierre Tureaud Sr., a legendary New Orleans civil rights attorney.
Although Tureaud Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps in terms of advocating for equal rights, he blazed his own trail as a speaker, activist, artist and educator.
“I never wanted to be a lawyer, and I’m not one,” Tureaud Jr. said in his remarks. “My father told me that ‘It is more important to know what you don’t want to do. You’ll find your way,’” he said.
Tureaud Jr.’s father helped form the Martinet Legal Society in 1957 to provide support to Black attorneys but also to use their collective legal power to fight against Jim Crow in the courtrooms. The society’s work dates back to the 1890s and early civil rights efforts of the Reconstruction era, where many African-American attorneys were involved in the fight against the Separate Car Law of Louisiana that led to the famous Plessy v. Ferguson U.S. Supreme Court Decision of 1896. Tureaud Sr. was involved decades later in the dismantling of segregation and elected as the first president of the society statewide and the New Orleans chapter for the important legal work that was to come as a result of the end of Jim Crow.
“I respected what he did and got to meet some of the most incredible men and women who joined him and formed this organization,” Tureaud Jr. said. “I have become an advocate, but not a lawyer, for people all over this country and for people with disabilities who have no voice, and my advocacy has not stopped,” he added.
This year’s gala and scholarship brunch honored three members with the President’s Award. The award is given to members for their dedication, service, time and commitment to the Martinet mission. Victor Jones, a civil rights attorney and the incoming president for the Martinet Legal Society, was one of the three recipients for his work advocating for education desegregation and civil rights in the South.
“It is with great honor that we recognize and commend the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society for its outstanding contributions to the legal community, its dedication to nurturing future generations of lawyers, and its unwavering pursuit of justice, equality and opportunity for all,” Jones said.
The organization also recognized Kim Boyle with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Boyle previously served as president of the Louisiana State Bar Association. She was the first African-American woman to serve in that position.
“Those of you who know me know that I don’t do anything to try to get an award,” Boyle said. “You know that I believe in what we do. What we do, mind you, is probably one of the most noble professions in the entire world,” she added.
Boyle said lawyers have the power to make change in the world, and it’s their responsibility to wield that power wisely.
“What we do truly means something to me.” Boyle said.
This article originally published in the October 7, 2024 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
