The Crusader Newspaper Group

Attorney Juan R. Thomas to receive 2018 Katie Hall Public Service Award

The Katie Hall Educational Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors is pleased to announce Attorney Juan R. Thomas, 75th President of the National Bar Association (NBA) will receive the 2018 Katie Hall Public Service Award on Saturday, April 7th. The National Bar Association founded in 1925 is America’s oldest and largest national network of predominantly African-American attorneys and judges. The organization represents the interests of approximately 65,000 lawyers, judges, law professors and law students.

Prior to ascending to the presidency of the National Bar Association, Attorney Thomas served the organization as Vice President and its National Secretary. He also served as Chair of the National Bar Association Law & Religion Section, Chairman of the National Bar Association Political Action Committee, Vice-Chair of the Legislative Division, and co-chaired the National Bar Association Day on Capitol Hill Program, where lawyers meet with Members of Congress to advocate for the organization’s national legislative agenda. During the 2003-04 bar year, Attorney Thomas served as Chairman of the Young Lawyers Division of the National Bar Association, and later, the Division received the Outstanding Division of the Year Award.

The National Black Lawyers: Top 100 includes Attorney Thomas on its list of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers, an honor given to only a select group of lawyers for their superior skills and qualifications in the field. Membership in this exclusive organization is by invitation only, and is limited to the top 100 attorneys in each state or region who have demonstrated excellence and have achieved outstanding results in their careers. Attorney Thomas’ selection was based upon his performance as an exceptional lawyer in the practice area of matrimonial and family law in the State of Illinois.

Prior to founding The Thomas Law Group in 2003, Attorney Thomas’ professional career was deeply rooted in political and governmental affairs. Attorney Thomas served as the legislative liaison for Citizen Action Illinois, where he advocated on behalf of consumer rights before the Illinois General Assembly. Attorney Thomas also served as Labor Counsel to Illinois Secretary of State, Jesse White, providing legal advice on labor and employment, and collective bargaining issues for the Office’s approximately 4,000 employees. Attorney Thomas has broad knowledge and experience in labor and employment law affecting the private sector, state and local governments, as well as school districts within the State of Illinois.

Attorney Thomas presently serves as Of Counsel to Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A., where his practice includes real estate/estate planning, labor and employment, and family law. He is a graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Attorney Thomas received his Juris Doctor and Master in Educational Policy from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.

The additional 2018 Katie Hall Educational Foundation honorees are: The Honorable Mary Brown, Member, Gary Common Council (3rd District); Ms. Amy Goodman, TV Host, Democracy Now!; and Attorney Robert L. Lewis, Senior Partner, Robert L. Lewis & Associates. A special Chairman’s Award will be presented to Mr. Justin Blandford, Site Superintendent, Illinois State Historic Sites at Springfield in honor of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln (posthumous).

A VIP and Media Reception will be held immediately before the Luncheon at 11:00 a.m., with the Luncheon to begin at 12:00 p.m. Both events will be held at the Genesis Convention Center, 1 Genesis Center Plaza, Downtown Gary. General Admission is $50.00 per person. For more information, please contact Junifer Hall, JD, MPA, MBA at (312) 953-5697 or the Law Office of Attorney John Henry Hall, Ed.D., LL.M. at (219) 883-7711.

 

Recent News

Scroll to Top