Nominations opened on Apr. 22 for the 2026 Arabella Mansfield Award and Gertrude Rush Award, which recognize significant contributions to the legal profession and community in Iowa. Members of the Iowa legal community are invited to submit nominations for these annual honors, which celebrate pioneering figures in the state’s legal history.
The awards aim to highlight attorneys and judges whose work reflects leadership, impact, and dedication similar to that shown by Arabella Mansfield—the first woman admitted to practice law in the United States—and Gertrude Rush—the first Black woman lawyer in Iowa and a co-founder of the National Bar Association. Both awards were established by organizations within Iowa’s legal sector: The Arabella Mansfield Award was created in 2002 by I.O.W.A., while the Gertrude Rush Award was launched in 2003 by both I.O.W.A. and the Iowa Chapter of the National Bar Association.
Nominees must be attorneys or judges who demonstrate qualities associated with these historic trailblazers. Those submitting nominations are asked to review criteria carefully and provide detailed supporting information about their candidate’s qualifications. For this year’s process, online fillable nomination forms have been introduced for both awards.
The Iowa Bar Association promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion within its membership according to its official website. The association also recognizes excellence through various awards honoring contributions to public service as well as achievements within the profession according to its official website.
Serving more than 6,500 lawyers and judges licensed in Iowa according to its official website, The Iowa Bar Association provides resources aimed at enhancing professional growth, client service, community involvement, and support for legislative efforts across the state as reported on its official site. Administrative operations are conducted from headquarters located in Des Moines according to its official website, with governance overseen by a board of 47 members elected from judicial districts throughout Iowa according to its official website.
The introduction of online nomination forms is expected to streamline participation this year as part of ongoing efforts by The Iowa Bar Association—recognized as America’s oldest voluntary state bar association—to foster justice statewide through member development initiatives as noted on its official site.