On May 7, The Center for American and International Law (CAIL) had the privilege of honoring Harriet Miers with its highest award—the Achievement in the Pursuit of Justice for All Award—during its Legacy & Leadership Awards Luncheon in Dallas.
It was a beautiful day and an even better reason to gather: to celebrate a legal trailblazer whose leadership has shaped the profession and left a lasting impact on CAIL itself. A former White House Counsel and longtime Chair of CAIL’s Board of Trustees, Harriet has spent decades leading with integrity, advocating for access to justice, and breaking barriers in a field that hasn’t always made it easy.
The program opened with remarks from CAIL Chair Randall M. Ebner and a timely and grounding rule of law invocation by Dena DeNooyer Stroh, who reminded us that “the rule of law is the exact opposite of the rule of power.” Her message set the tone for what the day was really about: honoring not just Harriet’s accomplishments, but the principles she’s stood for throughout her career.
Following lunch, guests viewed a tribute video highlighting Miers’ decades of leadership and unwavering support of CAIL. The program continued with a reflection on CAIL’s global mission from President T.L. Cubbage, who spoke about the organization's evolution from a regional foundation into an international hub for legal and law enforcement education.
The Honorable Dale Wainwright then introduced Harriet with warmth, insight, and a few great stories. He spoke about her “deliberative calmness,” her decades of public service, and her unwavering focus on doing the right thing, for the right reason—even under pressure. His remarks reminded us all that leadership doesn’t always look loud—it looks principled, steady, and thoughtful.
When Harriet took the stage for her fireside chat with Kim Askew, the conversation became even more personal. She shared how close she came to leaving college after her father fell ill and how a lawyer—Otto Mullinax—stepped in to help her family. That moment, she said, shaped her lifelong commitment to access to justice.
“You don’t realize how meaningful your law license is until you’ve helped someone who truly needs a lawyer and has no other way to get one,” she told the audience, reflecting on her work with clients who had experienced abuse, been denied benefits, or simply couldn’t afford legal help. She also offered advice from her years in the White House: there’s no substitute for doing the work, doing it thoroughly, and doing it with care.
The room was filled with leaders from across the legal community—judges, law firm partners, elected officials, and longtime friends of CAIL. We were especially glad to see sponsors bring younger attorneys, many of whom were hearing Harriet’s story for the first time—and left inspired by it.
The event came together thanks to the support of our sponsors, the leadership of our host committee, and the behind-the-scenes efforts of the CAIL team. Most of all, it was made meaningful by the opportunity to celebrate someone whose life’s work has advanced justice not just in theory—but in practice, where it matters most. To learn more about CAIL and how you can support our mission, visit cailaw.org.