On August 8, 2024, at the 51st Conference of the National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks, John Olivier, Retired Clerk of the Louisiana Supreme Court, became the 46th recipient of the J.O. Sentell award, the organization’s highest award.  John has been a faithful and dedicated member of NCACC since 1986.  John’s many contributions include serving as a member of the Executive Committee, as Chair of the Technology Committee, as Vice-President in 2012-2013, as President-Elect in 2013-2014, and as President in 2014-2015.  In 2007, he co-hosted the 34th Annual Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.  In the past 38 years, John has served as a Chair or a member of almost all the Conference’s committees.  This award recognizes extraordinary devotion to the conference, support for the judicial system, and service to others.  John is an excellent ambassador for the Conference and exemplifies all the above qualities we honor as appellate court clerks.  Not only does he go above and beyond in service, but he is always one of the first to welcome our new members and to greet the long-time members with a big smile and warm hug. John is a true Southern gentleman.  In his acceptance speech, John mentioned that the first thing his predecessor, Frans Labranche, told him was to become a member of NCACC.  We are so thankful that he followed his instruction. It is truly an honor to recognize John’s outstanding contributions to NCACC.

In 1979, the National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks (NCACC) established the J.O. Sentell Award. The award is named for one of the Conference’s founding members, J.O. Sentell, Clerk of the Alabama Supreme Court, and the Conference’s first President. Each year the NCACC has bestowed its most prestigious award on a member of the organization who has exhibited extraordinary leadership, service, and devotion to the organization, while furthering the Conference’s professional objectives in support of the advancement of the judicial system and dedication to public service.