When Arnold Battise attended the annual meeting of the State Bar of Texas’ American Indian Law Section Nov. 2, he expected the usual routine. But this year he was caught off-guard when he was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Battise, 71, humbly accepted the prestigious accolade and said that he did his best to share his gratitude while in awe. ”They only give you these types of awards when they think you are going to die, but I don’t plan on dying anytime soon,” he said in an obvious humorous tone.
He made sure to thank his wife and children for their support and other individuals that influenced his career. Ray Torgerson, chairman of the American Indian Law Section, awarded Battise the plaque for his outstanding work as judge/attorney and his dedication to Native people.
The recently retired Alabama-Coushatta tribal member served as a judge and attorney for nearly four decades, with the bulk of his career in federal service. In 1990 he became a federal administrative law judge in Alexandria, La. He also served in Dallas, Texas. His final role as an administrative judge was for the Social Security Office of Disability Adjudication and Review in Seattle, Wash., from 1999 to 2006. read more
