HLS 15RS-3003 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 91
BY REPRESENTATIVE JAMES
COMMENDATIONS: Commends the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society for its contributions
to the legal profession and community and designates Thursday, May 21, 2015, as
Louis A. Martinet Day at the state capitol
1 A RESOLUTION
2To commend the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society for its contributions to the legal
3 profession and community and to designate Thursday, May 21, 2015, as Louis A.
4 Martinet Day at the state capitol.
5 WHEREAS, the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society is the result of the efforts of Earl
6J. Amedee, Israel M. Augustine, Norman C. Francis, Benjamin J. Johnson, Alvin Jones,
7Ernest N. Morial, Justice Revius Ortique, A. P. Tureaud, and others in seeking to combat the
8injustices and inequalities that existed in the 1950s in the legal profession; and
9 WHEREAS, during that tumultuous time, Jim Crow laws dominated every aspect of
10African-American life, and African-American attorneys were barred from participating in
11the mainstream of the nation's legal profession; and
12 WHEREAS, the founding members of the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society organized
13for professional support and to focus their skills and training to combat Jim Crow laws in
14their communities and in the courtrooms; and
15 WHEREAS, the society is named in honor of a pioneer in the legal profession, Louis
16Andre' Martinet, the first African-American graduate at Straight University Law School,
17now known as Dillard University; and
18 WHEREAS, Louis A. Martinet graduated from law school in 1876 and, one year
19later he passed the Louisiana Bar Examination; and
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HR NO. 91
1 WHEREAS, in addition to being an attorney, Martinet was a politician, educator,
2activist, journalist, medical doctor, notary, and a key figure in civil rights activities at the end
3of Reconstruction; and
4 WHEREAS, many of the Martinet Legal Society's founding objectives remain the
5same today: members are encouraged to exchange ideas, promote legal scholarship, advance
6the science of jurisprudence, promote the administration of justice, and uphold the order and
7ethics of the courts to promote the welfare of the legal profession, and there are Louis A.
8Martinet Legal Society chapters across Louisiana engaged in these activities; and
9 WHEREAS, the society is greatly involved in Louisiana communities through
10activities and events such as the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project, the
11Annual Scholarship and Awards Gala, the Pro Bono Project, the Reading Project, and the
12Bar Scholarship Program, and through various programs of the National Bar Association,
13the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Baton Rouge Bar Association, the Louisiana
14Legislative Black Caucus, the Black Law Students Association, and the Louisiana Judicial
15Conference; and
16 WHEREAS, the Martinet Society has provided hundreds of students with
17scholarships to attend undergraduate and law schools within the state of Louisiana and has
18served as a backbone and resource for civil rights litigation, education initiatives, and the
19professional development of many African-American and other minority attorneys.
20 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
21Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society for its
22contributions to the legal profession and community; does hereby express best wishes and
23hopes for continued success in its efforts; and does hereby designate Thursday, May 21,
242015, as Louis A. Martinet Day at the state capitol.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that suitable copies of this Resolution be transmitted
26to Rolando Urbina, president of the Baton Rouge chapter of the Louis A. Martinet Legal
27Society, and to Rachael Johnson, president of the New Orleans chapter.
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HR NO. 91
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 91 Original 2015 Regular Session James
Commends the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society for its contributions to the legal profession
and community and designates May 21, 2015, as Louis A. Martinet Day at the capitol.
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