Louisiana Supreme Court Justice John Michael Guidry Honored With 2025 David A. Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award at LSBA Pro Bono Awards Ceremony - Press Release

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Louisiana Supreme Court Justice John Michael Guidry Honored With 2025 David A. Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award at LSBA Pro Bono Awards Ceremony 
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<div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2025 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>May 23, 2025</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE JOHN MICHAEL GUIDRY HONORED WITH 2025 DAVID A. HAMILTON LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AT LSBA PRO BONO AWARDS CEREMONY</strong> </p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; Louisiana Supreme Court Justice John Michael Guidry was honored with the 2025 David A. Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award at the Louisiana State Bar Association's 40th annual Pro Bono Publico &amp; Children&rsquo;s Law Awards Ceremony. In addition to the Lifetime Achievement Award, Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Justices Jefferson Hughes, William J. Crain, Jay B. McCallum, Piper D. Griffin, John Michael Guidry, and Cade R. Cole assisted LSBA President-Elect Edward J. Walters, Jr. and LSBA Access to Justice Commission Co-Chair Alainna R. Mire in presenting awards to legal professionals from throughout the state.</p><p>The David A. Hamilton Award is the most prestigious pro bono award presented by the Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA). It is awarded annually to an individual who has demonstrated a strong commitment to ongoing pro bono activities and has previously received recognition from the LSBA or other statewide pro bono organizations. Recipients of this award have made significant contributions to the pro bono movement in Louisiana throughout their lives, participated in collaborative efforts within the state justice community, and exhibited notable leadership and service benefiting the poor and disenfranchised.</p><p>The pro bono ceremony celebrates outstanding individuals and organizations that have devoted their time and talents to ensuring access to justice for Louisiana citizens, regardless of their financial circumstances.</p><p>Chief Justice John L. Weimer stated, "Congratulations to my colleague, Justice Guidry, and to all the valued legal professionals who have been honored for their pro bono work. The Justices and I commend them for their important contributions, which provide legal guidance and support to those whose economic challenges might otherwise hinder their ability to access justice. Justice Guidry&rsquo;s recognition reflects positively on the courts upon which he has served and on our system of justice and will hopefully inspire others to be called to the service of others in the pro bono arena." </p><p>&ldquo;Several years ago, I committed to assisting the indigent population in our community,&rdquo; Justice Guidry expressed. &ldquo;Through pro bono work, I can help those who cannot afford legal representation for their matters. I am privileged to serve in this manner and am honored to be recognized by the Louisiana State Bar Association with the David A. Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award.&rdquo;</p><p><a href="/About/Biography?p=John_Michael_Guidry"><strong>Justice John Michael Guidry</strong></a> has served the Louisiana judiciary for 27 years. He earned his bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University in 1983 and graduated cum laude with his Juris Doctor from the Southern University Law Center in 1987. Before becoming a judge, he worked as a legislative assistant and assistant parish attorney, and held various commission roles, including on the Greater Baton Rouge Port Commission. Justice Guidry was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1991 and then to the Louisiana State Senate in 1993. After a decade in private practice, he was elected as a judge of the First Circuit Court of Appeal in 1997. In 2023, he became the 15th Chief Judge and the first African American chief judge in the court's history. On January 1, 2025, he was elected Associate Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, becoming only the fourth African American to serve on the court and the first elected from outside Orleans Parish.</p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong> To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em> </p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2025/images/2025-02_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2025/images/2025-05_LSBA_Pro_Bono_Guidry.jpg" alt="Louisiana Supreme Court Justice John Michael Guidry Received the LSBA 2025 David A. Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award.  L-R: Louisiana Supreme Court Justices Jay B. McCallum, Jefferson Hughes, Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Justices John Michael Guidry, William J. Crain, Piper D. Griffin, and Cade R. Cole." /><br /><span class="caption">Louisiana Supreme Court Justice John Michael Guidry Received the LSBA 2025 David A. Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award.  L-R: Louisiana Supreme Court Justices Jay B. McCallum, Jefferson Hughes, Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Justices John Michael Guidry, William J. Crain, Piper D. Griffin, and Cade R. Cole.</span> </p></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p>
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