austinbar.org MAY 2026 | VOLUME 35, NUMBER 4
Four Distinguished Austin Bar Members Honored During 2026 Bench Bar Conference for Their Contributions
Clint Harbour
Judge Leon Grizzard
Mindy Gulati
Jason Snell
he 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.
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.
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Judge Leon Grizzard Professionalism Award Travis County Magistrate Court Judge Leon Grizzard was nominated for the Professionalism Award by both 390th District Court Judge
Distinguished continued on page 9.