The National Association of Indian Legal Services takes great pleasure in announcing that James Botsford will be awarded the 2012 Pierce-Hickerson Award. The Pierce-Hickerson Award honors outstanding contributions to the advancement or preservation of Native American rights. The Award was created in 2003 by advocates in civil legal assistance programs to pay homage to the legacies of Julian Pierce and Robert Hickerson for their outstanding advocacy in pursuit of justice for Native Americans.
Botsford began his attorney career in 1984 in a small legal aid office on an Indian reservation in Nebraska where he was the only attorney practicing Indian law. In 1991 James accepted the position of Director of the Indian Law Office of Wisconsin Judicare, based in Wausau, and has held that position ever since. Bostford also serves as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska; and is on the Steering Committee for the National Association of Indian Legal Services; the Board of the Indian Law Section of the Wisconsin Bar; and the Wisconsin Supreme Court created State Tribal Judicial Forum.