June 03, 2021
Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards joined the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus for the inaugural Gov. P.B.S. (Pickney Benton Stewart) Pinchback Breakfast honoring retired Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson. Former Acting Gov. Pinchback is Louisiana’s first African American governor, and this year marks the 100
th anniversary of his death. The celebration was held to honor his life and legacy and to present Chief Justice Johnson with the P.B.S. Legacy Award. Chief Justice Johnson is the first African American and second woman to serve in that position on the Louisiana Supreme Court.
“The recognition of Gov. Pinchback’s importance in history is long overdue, and it was an honor to be part of today’s event and to present Chief Justice Johnson with the very first P.B.S. Pinchback Legacy Award,” said Gov. Edwards. “Like him, she is a trailblazer who has had an exemplary legal career working more than 50 years as a lawyer, 36 years as a distinguished jurist, 26 years on the state’s highest court, eight of which she served as chief justice. And I want to personally thank her for serving on the Louisiana Justice Reinvestment Task Force and helping to pass criminal justice reform in 2017.”