History of the Serjeant of the Inn Award

The Serjeant of the Inn Award is an annual award bestowed by each of the North Texas area American Inns of Court to recognize a Master of the Bench member who has significantly contributed to the profession and the community throughout their career or who has made significant contributions to the profession and community deserving of the recognition. Each Inn selects one Serjeant of the Inn honoree who is recognized at the Joint Meeting of the North Texas Inns that is held each January.

The Serjeant of the Inn Award is based on the Serjeants-at-Law, who were and elite group of barristers in England and Ireland who existed from at least 1300 until 1921. Serjeants-at-Law wore a distinctive dress, the chief feature of which was the coif, a white lawn or silk skullcap. Notably, the Serjeants-at-Law had for centuries exclusive jurisdiction over the Court of Common Pleas and only Serjeants-at-Law could become judges in common law courts. With the creation of Queen’s Counsel during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, the Serjeants-at-Law declined. The practice of appointing new Serjeants-at-Law ended in the nineteenth century and the last Serjeants-at-Law died in 1921. 

The North Texas area American Inns of Court rely on the traditions of the elite Serjeants-at-Law to recognize members who make significant contributions to the legal profession and community.