The Dallas Bar Association announced that U.S. District Chief Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn of the Northern District of Texas is the inaugural recipient of the Dallas Bar Association’s Jurist of the Year Award. Going forward, the award will be known as the Barbara M.G. Lynn Jurist of the Year Award, according to a statement.

The award was established by the Dallas Bar Association to honor judges who make significant contributions to the legal community in the North Texas area and demonstrate high ideals, exemplary personal character, and judicial competence. “I have thought for a long time there is more we can do to honor our judiciary,” said DBA President Aaron Tobin, in a statement. “For those of us who practice in our Dallas courts, we know how fortunate we are to have—at both the state and federal level—one of the strongest benches in the country. Our judges not only work tirelessly in the courtroom, but also spend considerable time giving back to the profession and to our community. To create an award that honors and recognizes the great work of our outstanding judges is a natural thing for the Dallas Bar Association to do.”