The Austin Bar is proud to announce the winners of our spring awards.
Clint Harbour has been named the inaugural winner of the William O. Whitehurst Award. Judge Leon Grizzard has been named the winner of the Professionalism Award. Mindy Gulati has been named the winner of the Rev. Joseph C. Parker, Jr., Diversity Award. Jason Snell has been named the winner of the Larry F. York Mentoring Award.
These distinguished honorees received their awards at the annual Bench Bar Conference.
Clint Harbour
William O. Whitehurst Award
Clint Harbour was a member of the Austin Bar for more than 20 years. During that time, he took on leadership roles in many of our activities, including sitting on the board of directors. Additionally, he was a member and sat on the board of directors of the Austin Young Lawyers Association.
Clint spent his career in the Office of the Texas Attorney General in its transportation division.
“He was an outstanding trial lawyer,” said Anthony “Tony” Blazi, who nominated Clint for the award. “He is thought by many to have achieved the best jury verdict ever in an eminent domain case on behalf of the state.”
In addition, Clint was a frequent CLE presenter, helping to educate other lawyers in litigation, evidence, eminent domain, and other topics at in-house seminars at the attorney general’s office and at state and Austin Bar conferences
“He truly rendered and exemplified outstanding service in the public sector as a Texas lawyer and member of the Austin Bar,” Blazi said.
Clint passed away on Aug. 30, 2024, at the age of 49. He was survived by his wife, Christina, stepchildren, Aaron and Hannah, and grandchildren, William and Louise.
Judge Leon Grizzard
Professionalism Award
Travis County Magistrate Court Judge Leon Grizzard was nominated for the Professionalism Award by both 390th District Court Judge Julie Kocurek and Austin Bar Criminal Law Chair Leslie Boykin.
“He holds lawyers to the highest standards in their motion writing, as well as what they say and how they say it in court,” Boykin said. “He’s a role model because he strives very hard to care about each person’s individual situation when they come before him.”
Licensed in 1978, Judge Grizzard initially worked as a criminal defense attorney, trying felonies, including several death-penalty cases. For several years, he also authored a publication that highlighted criminal jury trials.
In 2008, he was elected to the Travis County Magistrate Court. Additionally, for more than 15 years he has presided over the Travis County Mental Health Court.
“He has shown professionalism in every capacity in which he has tirelessly served,” Judge Kocurek said.
Judge Grizzard will retire from the bench at the end of May 2026. A retirement celebration and portrait unveiling will take place on May 21 at 1 p.m. at the 403rd District Court at the Blackwell Thurman Criminal Justice Center.
Mindy Gulati
Rev. Joseph C. Parker, Jr., Diversity Award
Mindy Gulati is founder and CEO of Fundamental Advisory, a consulting firm focused on advising businesses, nonprofits, and law firms on issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. She designs strategic plans, drafts policies and procedures, and creates custom content and workshops for a wide range of organizations around the country.
Mindy is a frequent Austin Bar and AYLA speaker and recently gave a presentation to AYLA on de-escalation.
She is a graduate of the Thomas Jefferson School of Law and is a former criminal defense attorney, which she credits with developing her ability to have tough conversations and forge unique connections.
“Every time Mindy talks, I learn something,” said Ketan Kharod, chair of the Austin Bar’s DEI Committee. “She pushes each of us to do better: how to balance calling people out and calling people in; how change may not be easy or comfortable, but how we have to move forward—sometimes by ourselves; and that we have to use whatever form of access or privilege we have to lift others up.”
Jason Snell
Larry F. York Mentoring Award
Jason Snell is a trial lawyer certified in civil trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He has worked in Austin since 2007, and in Dallas and New York City before then.
He is a frequent Austin Bar and AYLA speaker. He’s also served as a teacher at the People’s Law School, as an instructor on construction law at the Pratt Institute, School of Architecture in New York, a lecturer for the Building Owners’ and Managers’ Institute, and a lecturer at Polytechnic University.