The following LBA members were recognized at the Bench & Bar Social for notable contributions to the Louisville legal community and beyond.
Judge of the Year
Hon. James D. Moyer
Judge Moyer recently retired as U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Kentucky, a position he held for more than 18 years. During that time, he was known for his dedication, fairness and efficiency and consistently received high approval ratings in evaluations by attorneys who appeared before him. Whether conducting a settlement conference in a civil case or handling pretrial matters in a criminal case, Judge Moyer could always be counted on to be well-versed in the law and courteous to attorneys and litigants alike. The LBA is proud to honor him for a long career of outstanding service on the bench.
Justice Martin E. Johnstone Special Recognition Award
Raymond M. Burse
Burse has an impressive record of achievement in the legal profession and higher education. The first African-American to make partner at a major Louisville law firm, he later became vice-president and general counsel at GE Consumer & Industrial, a subsidiary of General Electric, where he was committed to diversification of the legal department. Following his retirement, he returned to serve as president of Kentucky State University, a position he previously held throughout most of the 1980s. He made headlines last year for his decision to voluntarily relinquish $90,000 of his annual salary in order to boost the earnings of the university’s lowest-paid workers.
Judge Benjamin F. Shobe Civility & Professionalism Award
Daniel T. Goyette
Goyette has served as chief public defender and executive director of the Louisville-Jefferson County Public Defender Corporation for more than 30 years. Over the course of his career, he has received many professional accolades including the American Bar Association’s prestigious Dorsey Award, the Kentucky Bar Association’s Outstanding Lawyer Award and the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Special Recognition Award. A charter member of the Louis D. Brandeis American Inn of Court and a member of the adjunct faculty at the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, he is highly regarded for promoting civility and the highest ethical standards in the legal profession.
Paul G. Tobin Pro Bono Service Award
Kelly A. Kane
Kane worked as a paralegal and litigation manager before obtaining her law degree and becoming legal counsel for Humana. While participating in the LBA’s Leadership Academy in 2013, she learned about the Pro Bono Consortium’s self-help family law forms and the free pro se divorce clinics it conducts twice a month at the Jefferson County Judicial Center. Although her background is in corporate and insurance law, she accepted the challenge to step outside her comfort zone and volunteer at the clinics to help pro se litigants complete forms needed to obtain divorces and handle post-decree changes in child custody, visitation and support. She has been a regular volunteer ever since.
Frank E. Haddad Jr. Young Lawyer Award
Joshua M. Reho
Reho began working in the trial division of the Louisville Metro Public Defender’s Office shortly after graduating from law school and gaining admission to the bar. Handling jury trials in both district and circuit court, he quickly demonstrated the skill, work ethic and devotion to client interests personified by this award’s namesake. He has since transferred to the office’s appellate division where he continues to excel in written advocacy in briefs for the Kentucky Court of Appeals and Kentucky Supreme Court. His accomplishments to date mark him as an attorney destined to have an impactful legal career.
Committee of the Year
Digital Continuing Legal Education Committee
Peter H. Wayne, Chair
The Digital Continuing Legal Education Committee, chaired by Wayne, spent countless hours gathering and critically reviewing information that the LBA Board of Directors needed to approve the purchase of digital recording and presentation equipment now installed in the Bar Center. The new equipment will enable the LBA to record seminars and offer them for subsequent viewing on demand through its new and improved website, thus greatly increasing its capacity to deliver quality continuing legal education to both members and nonmembers.
Section of the Year (tie)
Litigation Section
Clay M. Stevens, Chair
The Litigation Section, chaired by Stevens, developed and presented an impressive lineup of informative continuing legal education seminars of benefit to both the plaintiff and defense bars. It also pitched in to make the Santa’s Court Toy Drive, conducted in partnership with The Salvation Army, a resounding success.
Real Estate Section
Geoffrey M. White, Chair
The Real Estate Section, chaired by Geoffrey M. White, again helped plan and present the Kentucky Commercial Real Estate Conference, which brings together attorneys, investment managers and real estate professionals from across the state for a full day of networking and courses covering an array of real estate and land use law topics. It also held a clothing drive benefiting residents of The Healing Place.
