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Celebrating 50 Year Attorneys
Law Day, May 1 annually, is a national day set aside to celebrate the rule of law. Law Day underscores how law and the legal process contribute to the freedoms that all Americans share. In Tarrant County, the Tarrant County Bar Association and the Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association have traditionally celebrated this day by honoring and recognizing outstanding members for their service to our legal community and the community at large.
The Blackstone Award has been given annually since 1963 and recognizes a legal career that exemplifies professional aptitude, integrity and courage. Steven C. Laird’s career has been this and more.
The Silver Gavel Award is given to a member of the judciary who has made a substantial and noteworthy contribution to the legal profession. This year's recipient is Justice Lee Gabriel.
The Professionalism Award is given to a member of the bar who has displayed outstanding professional conduct in their career. This year’s recipient is Tim Evans.
The Outstanding Young Lawyer Award recipient is given by the TCYLA and is given to a young lawyer who is recognized for their proficiency, service to the profession and service to the community. This year’s recipient is Punam Kaji.
The Outstanding Mentor Award recognizes an attorney or judge who has demonstrated a commitment to mentoring young lawyers in the legal community. This year’s recipient is Leon Reed, Jr.
The Liberty Bell Award recognizes an outstanding nonlawyer who has made a selfless contribution to the community by strengthening the effectiveness of the American system of justice, and by instilling a better understanding and appreciation of the law. This year’s recipient is Pamela Young.
Blackstone Award
Steven C. Laird
Steve Laird has been practicing law since 1980 and is part of the less than one-half of onepercent of Texas lawyers who hold four different board certifications, as well as an L.L.M. in Trial Advocacy. He is board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is also certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Additionally, Steve is one of only eleven lawyers in the State of Texas who are board certified in Truck Accident Law by the National Board of Legal Specialization. Steve’s firm specializes in serious personal injury and wrongful death cases, including trucking collisions. Steve is a frequent national, state and local speaker on a variety of legal topics. He has given well over 100 presentations, papers, or articles across the nation on subjects such as evidence, trucking collisions, torts, civility, and trial practice. He has also co-authored a book chapter on spinal cord injuries.
Steve has been consistently voted as one of the top 100 “Super Lawyers” for the entire state of Texas for fifteen years (2005–2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 by Thompson Reuters Legal, as published in Texas Law & Politics Magazine (Texas Monthly Magazine). Steve has also been selected as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” for Personal Injury Litigation, for each year from 2010 through 2020. Steve is a 2021 Inductee to the International Society of Barristers, an invitation only society of lawyers selected for excellence and professionalism in their field. Steve has also been selected as an “Attorney of Influence” by his peers, as published in Fort Worth Business Press, and has been selected multiple times as one of the top “Power Attorneys” for Tarrant County. He has also been consistently voted by members of the Tarrant County Bar as a Top Personal Injury attorney in Tarrant County, as published in Fort Worth Magazine. He received the 7th Annual Outstanding Trial Lawyer of the Year Award by Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association for outstanding service and representation of injured and damage plaintiffs in personal injury and civil litigation in
We look forward to celebrating the following Law Day Award Recipients at a future date. More details to come.
November 2015. He received the “2018 Annual Tarrant County Bench Bar Big Heart Award” for leadership and mentoring, and the only “Perfect Attendance Award” for his attendance at 25 Annual Bench Bar Conferences (1994–2018).
Steve is an active member and one of the few Plaintiff’s attorneys in the American Law Institute, the national organization which develops the Restatements of Law. Steve has also been past president and was a charter member of the Eldon B. Mahon Chapter of the Fort Worth Inn of Court. He has served as president of the Fort Worth Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates and has also served as the President of TEX-ABOTA. Steve received the second annual “Professionalism Award” given by the College of the State Bar of Texas. Additionally, Steve received the Tarrant County Bar Association Professionalism Award for 2010. He has been a member of the State Bar of Texas Referral Fee Task Force Committee and Pattern Jury Charge Committee. He has also chaired the State Bar of Texas Advertising Review Committee. Steve was unanimously appointed by the Texas Supreme Court to serve on the Professional Ethics Committee. He been elected as a Director for the Tarrant County Bar Association for multiple terms and has also been a Director of the Tarrant County Bar Foundation. He is also a board member of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys, and is on its Board of Regents.
The Texas Young Lawyers Association selected Steve as the Outstanding Young Lawyer of Texas in 1988 from over twenty thousand lawyers under the age of 35. He was also selected as the Outstanding Young Lawyer of Tarrant County that same year.
Steve is a member of the American Association for Justice. He has been a Director of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and has chaired numerous committees for that organization. He is a past-president of the Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association.
Steve received his undergraduate degree in business at Texas Tech University (B.B.A.), a Masters of Business Administration degree from Texas Christian University (M.B.A.), his law degree from South Texas College of Law (Law Review, J.D.), and his Master of Laws Degree in Trial Advocacy, with Honors, from Temple University School of Law in Philadelphia (L.L.M.).
He received the United States Army Commendation Medal before being honorably discharged from the Army in 1974.
Silver Gavel Award Justice Lee Gabriel
Justice Lee Gabriel was born in Fort Worth and grew up in San Angelo. She received her B.A., with honors, in Political Science from Texas Tech University and graduated from Texas Tech University School of Law cum laude. She served as a law clerk for the Honorable Halbert O.Woodward, Chief Federal District Judge for the Northern District of Texas for two years. Justice Gabriel moved to Denton to work as a felony prosecutor for the Denton County District Attorney's Office. While working as an Assistant District Attorney, she became Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She was promoted to the position of First Assistant District Attorney in 1986. In 1989, Justice Gabriel was appointed as the first District Judge of the 367th District Court in Denton County by Governor William P. Clements. She presided in that general jurisdiction court for over 20 years. In July of 2010, Governor Rick Perry appointed her to the position of Justice, Place 7 of the Second Court of Appeals, where she served until retiring in December 2020. She currently serves as a Senior Court of Appeals Judge and sits by assignment. She previously served as the Chair of the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Texas’ Ethics Committee and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Texas Center for the Judiciary. She also served as a member of the Judicial Conduct Commission. In 2013, Justice Gabriel was certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in the area of Criminal Appellate Law. She also teaches as an Adjunct Professor and coaches a mock trial team at Texas A&M University School of Law.
Professionalism Award
Tim Evans
Tim Evans was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and obtained his BA from Texas Tech University in 1967. He obtained his Juris Doctor in 1969 from Texas Tech School of Law, and served as Assistant District Attorney, Tarrant County from 1970-1976. Tim has represented criminal defense clients in Fort Worth, as well as across Texas and the nation. He has been Certified as a Criminal Law Specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1977. He has been selected as the President of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (1990-1991); Member of the Board of Directors of the National MAY/JUNE 2021 ▪ TCBA BULLETIN 25
Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (1990-1996); the Outstanding Criminal Defense Lawyer of the Year by the State Bar of Texas (1987), and the Chairman of the Criminal Justice Section of the State Bar of Texas (1991-1992).
TimEvans received the Blackstone Award from the Tarrant County Bar Association in 2011. He is also in the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Hall of Fame.
Outstanding Young Lawyer Award
Punam Kaji
Punam Kaji is Assistant General Counsel at Ben E. Keith Company, a food and alcohol distributor. Her practice focuses on employment and litigation matters for the Company, which has about 5000 employees working in 14 states. She is Board Certified in Labor and Employment law. In addition to managing a litigation docket, Punam works closely with human resources on training, policies, and other
proactive measures.
Punam’s expertise comes from years of counseling and litigating employment law matters for clients while working at Haynes and Boone, LLP in the firm’s Fort Worth, Dallas, and Houston offices. Punam has been recognized for her excellent lawyer on numerous occasions. Fort Worth Magazine and 360 West Magazine recognized her as a Top Lawyer, and the ACC-DFW Chapter named her a Finalist for a Senior Corporate Award in 2019.
When Punam is not handling labor and employment issues, she serves her community and the Bar.
She serves on the Diversity Committee of the Tarrant County Bar Association and co-organized a recent 10-part discussion series with Fort Worth attorney and leader, Harrison Smith. The discussion has focused on racial justice in the legal field and beyond, and is coupled with a Book Club for continued learning on systematic racism, history, and how we can move forward.
In 2020, the State Bar of Texas appointed Punam to the 15-member Diversity Taskforce. She is the past Chair of the Asian Pacific Interest Section of the State Bar of Texas. As Chair, she organized a statewide conference for APIS members in Austin, Texas. She has served on the board of the South Asian Bar Association of Houston (SABA Houston) and as a committee chairperson of the Dallas Asian American Bar Association (DAABA). In 2020, Punam and seven other Asian American women lawyers in DFW started an organization called The Podium. The Podium amplifies the voices of Asian American women in the legal profession and creates authentic connections for its members.
This year Punam was named a Finalist for Achievement in Diversity and Inclusion by the ACC-DFW. In 2013, she was recognized as DAABA’s Member of the Year. In 2016, she received the Outstanding Public Service Award by SABA Houston. She has served on the board of various non-profit organizations in Houston and Dallas. She is currently on the board of New Leaders Council Dallas as the Mentorship Chair and a past fellow of the leadership program. She is on the board of WiseUp TX, a nonprofit for South Asian Texans to become more engaged citizens. Punam regularly speaks at conferences and other venues regarding the journey of the legal profession, employment law, and diversity and inclusion.
Punam graduated from SMU Dedman School of Law and the University of Texas at Austin for her undergraduate studies. She was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, and after living in San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and Dallas, she lovingly claims that every city in Texas is her hometown. Punam is the daughter of immigrants from India, and her family has been in Texas for forty years. She enjoys travel and food (you can follow her food adventures on Instagram @eatsbyPK). She lives in DFW with her husband and her cat.
Outstanding Mentor Award
Leon Reed, Jr.
Leon Reed, Jr. was raised and still resides in the community of Como in West Fort Worth. In high school, he was fortunate enough to attend both Trimble Technical High School and Western Hills High School – at the same time. He started each day at Trimble Tech, where he took engineering and drafting classes. During the third period of each day, he would drive to Western Hills and complete the balance of his studies. Attending both high schools gave him the opportunity to establish friendships and bonds with people throughout Fort Worth. Ultimately, his diploma came from Western Hills, but his bonds with his Tech classmates still run deep, and Mr. Reed attended both schools’ reunions.
Mr. Reed is a proud and active member of Como 1st Missionary Baptist Church under the spiritual guidance of Pastor Kenneth Jones, Jr. He has been praising in the choir since his days at Leonard Middle School, and has served as Choir President, Assistant Director, and a member of our Praise and Worship Team. Mr. Reed also does community service with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and the Como Community Center.
Mr. Reed is a United States Marine and served seven years in the Corps. A Marine Corps mantra is “Lead, follow, or get out of the way!” These are words Mr. Reed still lives by today. During his time in the Corps, Mr. Reed received several honors and awards including meritorious promotions,
certificates of commendation, and medals. At 20 years old, Mr. Reed was one of the youngest sergeants in the Marine Corps. Among other assignments and duties, Mr. Reed served as a Marine Security Guard (embassy guard) and worked closely with the Department of State. He guarded the US embassy in Lagos, Nigeria, Togo, Lome, and Bridgetown, Barbados – protecting classified material and personnel. While stationed in Barbados, Mr. Reed revised the embassy’s protocols for handling mobs, intruders, and bomb threats. At each duty station and Marine Corps training school, Mr. Reed was consistently one of the top Marines. He was honorably discharged from the Corps in 1993 and achieved a final ranking of Staff Sergeant (E-6). Mr. Reed still strives to use the Marine Corps Leadership Traits and Principles in his daily life.
Mr. Reed is a graduate of Texas Christian University, attaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science while minoring in history, with a military emphasis. At TCU, he was on the Student Concerns Committee Chair for two years, a Frog Camp Facilitator for four years, and a co-founder of the TCU Hyper Frogs spirit organization. Mr. Reed also was selected as one of the students who met with trustees annually to address concerns. Mr. Reed appeared in a televised Public Service Announcement as well as written publications for TCU, culminating in a Student Leadership Award.
After TCU, Mr. Reed attended Texas Tech University School of Law, graduating with his Doctorate of Jurisprudence in 2003. He was one of the initial graduates of the Law School’s Criminal Prosecution Clinic and its Civil Litigation Clinic. He also directly mentored and counseled student-athletes from Texas Tech’s football, track, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and softball teams.
After earning his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from Texas Tech School of Law, Mr. Reed returned to Fort Worth and started his practice, The Law Office of Leon Reed, Jr. Mr. Reed ran for Judge of Count Criminal Court #2 in 2014. He is a frequent nominee for “Tarrant County Top Attorney - Criminal Law” in Fort Worth Magazine.
Liberty Bell Award
Pamela Young
Pamela Young is a life-long resident of Fort Worth. Pamela graduated from Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Arts in Electronic Media and Film, with an emphasis on Television Production and a minor in Public Relations. After graduation, she worked as a television producer for 15 years before leaving the television industry to become a full-time community organizer. She now serves multiple roles in the community.
Pamela is the lead criminal-justice organizer at United Fort Worth. This organization empowers Black, Latinx, and other historically marginalized and working-class communities to collectively fight for justice by challenging discriminatory policies and oppressive systems. In the Spring of 2020, Pamela spearheaded the Tarrant County Community Bail Fund to help free people trapped inside squalid county jails during the global pandemic, after petitioning local legal system officials to decarcerate and consider compassionate release, fell on deaf ears. TCC Bail Fund continues to free people from local jails who are only there because they are poor.
Pamela is also the lead organizer for the Tarrant County Coalition for Community Oversight. Through TCCCO, Pamela and other organizers are working to ensure that effective, independent community police oversight is implemented in the city of Fort Worth, and eventually in neighboring cities.
Pamela is active in local electoral politics and voter engagement as well. In 2020, through United Fort Worth, she helped lead a campaign to get a “New Sheriff Now” in Tarrant County, in the midst of the deadliest year Tarrant County jail had seen to date. Although the campaign was not successful in electing a new sheriff, it was instrumental in shedding light on and bringing national attention to the deadly conditions in the jail that were continually overlooked by local officials.
Pamela has also done extensive volunteer work with Faith In Texas and its LIVE FREE campaign, which focuses on ending gun violence, police brutality and mass incarceration through a Black and Brown directly-impacted lens, as well as with Mothers Against Police Brutality, which provides support for surviving families, advocacy and policy change.
Pamela works tirelessly and selflessly to ensure her community is empowered to fight for justice for all. g
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