Ernesto G. Sanchez of Idaho Legal Aid - the First Recipient of the Idaho State Bar Diversity Section "Justice for All" Award.

The ISB Diversity Section voted unanimously to establish a special award from the Diversity Section to an individual who has made a singularly important and meaningful contribution to the promotion of diversity in the legal profession and in the law, as well as championing access to justice for the disenfranchised in Idaho society. The Section wishes to recognize an outstanding individual who has made a significant, lifelong contribution to achieving the ideal of equal opportunity for all people.

The purpose of this award is to highlight the progress and impact an individual has made to bring the opportunities of the law to bear in the areas of discrimination and diversity including but not limited to race, ethnic background and national origin, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation and sexual preference, poverty, age and family status. The Section’s intention is to create a broad umbrella of concern for those who have been denied full participation in American society, from housing to education, public accommodation, employment, health care, family status and more.

The first award will be presented at a special breakfast in honor of the first recipient, Ernesto G. Sanchez, at the Hilton Hotel in Idaho Falls on Friday, July 16, 2010, at 7 AM MDT.