About the Gertrude E. Rush Award
The National Bar Association Gertrude E. Rush Award honors individuals who embody the pioneering spirit of Gertrude E. Rush, the first African American woman lawyer in Iowa and the sole female co-founder of the NBA. The award recognizes legal professionals and community leaders who demonstrate exceptional leadership, excellence, and an unyielding commitment to civil rights, social justice, and diversity.
Randy K. Jones has more than 40 years of experience across government service and private practice. He worked as a litigation partner and first-chair trial lawyer at Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, P.C., from 2015 to 2026, where he represented Fortune 500 companies and senior executives. During his tenure, he served as lead trial counsel in a range of complex matters, including federal trademark litigation in the Central District of California, a federal civil rights trial involving a large public school district and significant commercial arbitrations. Prior to private practice, Mr. Jones worked as an assistant United States attorney in the Southern District of California for nearly three decades. He served 29 years in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps. As president of the National Bar Association, Mr. Jones secured landmark corporate partnerships, led international legal delegations and worked directly with members of Congress and White House staff on civil rights and criminal justice reform.