SLS 15RS-1840 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 118
BY SENATORS PETERSON AND CL AITOR
COMMENDATIONS. Commends the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society for its contributions
to the legal profession and community and recognize May 21, 2015, as Louis A. Martinet
Day at the Louisiana State Capitol.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society for its contributions to the legal
3 profession and community and recognize May 21, 2015, as the second Annual
4 "Louis A. Martinet Day" at the Louisiana State Capitol.
5 WHEREAS, the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society is the result of the efforts of Earl
6 J. Amedee, Israel M. Augustine, Norman C. Francis, Benjamin J. Johnson, Alvin Jones,
7 Ernest N. Morial, Justice Revius Ortique, A. P. Tureaud, and others in seeking to combat the
8 injustices and inequalities that existed in the 1950s regarding the legal profession; and
9 WHEREAS, it was during that tumultuous time that Jim Crow dominated every
10 aspect of African-American life and African-American attorneys were barred from
11 participating in the mainstream of the nation's legal profession; and
12 WHEREAS, the founding members of Louis A. Martinet Legal Society organized
13 for professional support and to focus their skills and training to combat Jim Crow in their
14 communities and in the courtrooms; and
15 WHEREAS, the society is named in honor of a pioneer in the legal profession, Louis
16 Andre' Martinet, who was the first African-American graduate at Straight University Law
17 School, which is now named Dillard University; and
18 WHEREAS, he graduated law school in 1876, one year after he passed the Louisiana
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SLS 15RS-1840 ORIGINAL
1 Bar Examination; and
2 WHEREAS, in addition to being an attorney, Martinet was a politician, educator,
3 activist, journalist, medical doctor, notary, and a key figure in the civil rights activities
4 surrounding the end of Reconstruction; and
5 WHEREAS, many of the Martinet Legal Society's objectives upon its founding
6 remain the same today; the members are able to exchange ideas, promote legal scholarship,
7 advance the science of jurisprudence, promote the administration of justice, and uphold the
8 order and ethics of the courts to promote the welfare of the legal profession; and
9 WHEREAS, there are Louis A. Martinet Legal Society chapters across the state that
10 promote the same doctrine; and
11 WHEREAS, the society is greatly involved in the community through projects such
12 as the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project, Annual Scholarship and Awards
13 Gala, Pro Bono Project, Reading Project, Bar Scholarship Program, and several other
14 programs in conjunction with Martinet's affiliates; the National Bar Association, Louisiana
15 State Bar Association, Baton Rouge Bar Association, The Louisiana Legislative Black
16 Caucus, Black Law Students Association, Louisiana Judicial Conference, and other Martinet
17 chapters across the state; and
18 WHEREAS, the Martinet Society has provided hundreds of students with
19 scholarships to attend undergraduate and law school within the State of Louisiana and has
20 served as the backbone and resource to civil rights litigation, education initiatives, and
21 professional development of many African-American and minority attorneys.
22 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
23 does hereby commend the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society for its contributions to the legal
24 profession and community and recognizes May 21, 2015, as the second annual "Louis A.
25 Martinet Day" at the Louisiana State Capitol.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
27 Rolando Urbina, president of the Baton Rouge chapter and Chrasuna Hill, president of the
28 New Orleans chapter.
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SLS 15RS-1840 ORIGINAL
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by J. Ashley Mitchell Carter.
DIGEST
SR 118 Original 2015 Regular Session Peterson
Commends the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society for its contributions to the legal profession
and community and recognizes May 21, 2015, as Louis A. Martinet Day at the Louisiana
State Capitol.
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