February marks Black History Month. The state bar honors all Black Nevadans who have made significant contributions to the legal profession. We spotlight three additional Black people this week:
Johnnie Blakeney Rawlinson
After being nominated by President Bill Clinton in July 1997, Judge Rawlinson was made a U.S. district judge by the U.S. Senate in March 1998. Judge Rawlinson was the first woman and first person of color to be appointed to the Nevada federal district court. After Senator Harry Reid’s recommendation, President Clinton appointed Judge Rawlinson as the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. On July 21, 2000, the Senate confirmed Judge Rawlinson and she took her oath on July 26, 2000. Judge Rawlinson was first African-American woman to serve on the Ninth Circuit.
Judge Rawlinson worked for the Clark County District attorney for over 17 years before she was appointed to the bench. She was a deputy district attorney, and chief deputy. She was promoted to Assistant District Attorney in January 1995. In this capacity, she oversaw the Administrative, Family Support, and Civil divisions.
Judge Rawlinson graduated from N.C. A&T State University, Greensboro, N.C. with a B.S. A degree in Psychology.
Judge Rawlinson received her Master in Judicial Studies in 2016 from Duke University. She graduated with Distinction at McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific in Sacramento, California.
Judge Rawlinson is an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Federal Judges Association, State Bar of Nevada, California State Bar, Federal Judges Association, American Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Law Institute, American Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Bar Association, Federal Judges Association, State Bar of Nevada, California State Bar, Federal Judges Association, Federal Judges Association, State Bar of Nevada, California State Bar of Nevada, State Bar of Nevada, State Bar of Nevada, State Bar of Nevada, State Bar of Nevada, State Bar of Nevada, State Bar of Nevada State Bar, California State Bar, Federal Judge Rawlinson, California State Bar, State Bar, California State Bar, California State Bar, California State Bar, American Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Bar Association, California State Bar, Federal Judges Association, Federal Judges Association, Federal Judges Association, Federal Judges Association, Federal Judges Association, Federal Judges Association, California State Bar, Federal Judges Association, Federal Judges Association, Federal Judges Association, Federal Judges Association, Federal Judges
Judge Rawlinson was awarded the following honors: Distinguished Service Award – Clark County Pro Bono Project; Black Women Lawyers of Northern California recognition Award; Kappa Alpha Psi Outstanding Community Service Award; N.C. A&T State University Alumni Association Outstanding Professional Achievement Award; Martin Luther King Committee Drum Major of the Millennium Award; Nevada Attorney General Role Model Award; McGeorge School of Law Alumna of the Year Award. 2005 Who’s Who In America, 2005 Who’s Who of American Women. Degree from Pepperdine University School of Law. 2008 Who’s Who in America. 2008 Who’s Who of American Women. 2008 Who’s Who in Black Las Vegas. 2008 Who’s Who in America. 2008 Who’s Who in America. 2008 Who’s Who in American Women. 2008 Who’s Who in American Politics. 2006 Who’s Who in America. 2007 Who’s Who in American Law. 2008 Who’s Who in America. 2008 Who’s Who in America. 2008 Who’s Who in America.
Dwight Rawlinson, Judge Rawlinson’s college sweetheart, was her husband for 40 years before his death in 2016. Their three children are Monica, a doctor, Traci and David. Traci is an executive judicial assistant and David is a personal trainer and fitness model. Judge Rawlinson is the proud grandmother to Marc, Danny, Malachi, all of which are masters at tae-kwon do.
Las Vegas City Attorney Bryan K. Scott
Bryan Scott has lived in North Las Vegas and Las Vegas ever since April 1970. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Management), from the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, and a Juris doctorate from Northwestern School of Law Lewis and Clark College in 1991. He has been an attorney since October 11, 1991 and is currently the City Attorney of the City of Las Vegas. Scott’s practice areas include General Civil Litigation and Special Improvement Districts, Condemnations and Land Use, Zoning and Planning. He also practices ethics, cannabis regulation, public records and the Open Meeting Law. He was a Deputy City attorney from 1996 to 2005. He was the Assistant City Attorney from 2005 to 2016. He was the Senior Assistant City attorney from 2016 to 2020. Scott was unanimously approved by the Las Vegas City Council on June 17, 2020 as the 23rd and 1st African-American City Attorney in the City of Las Vegas’s history (119 year).
Scott was an associate attorney for Donald J. Campbell & Associates, (NKA Campbell & Williams), and an associate attorney for Rawlings, Olson, Cannon, Gormley & Desruisseaux, (NKA Olson Cannon Gormley & Stoberski), from 1991-1993.
Scott was a member of both the State Bar of Nevada Board of Governors from 2006 to 2009 and 2010 to 2018. In 2016-2017, he was the 88th president and the first African-American to be elected to the State Bar of Nevada. From 2011 to 2014, he was a member of Nevada’s Board of Continuing Legal Education. Scott was elected the first African American President of Clark County Bar Association. He served as a Board Member/Secretary-Treasurer/President-Elect of the Clark County Bar Association from 2000 to 2004.
Scott was elected President of the Las Vegas Chapter, National Bar Association in 1996. He held that office until 1999.
Scott was the former Chairman of the State Bar of Nevada’s Diversity Committee. He also served three years on the Bench-Bar Committee of the Nevada Supreme Court. Scott is currently a member of the Justice Michael L. Douglas Pre-Law Fellowship Board. This program aims to expose students from underrepresented groups to the rigors and benefits of law school.
Scott is a member since 2021 of the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board’s Cannabis Advisory Commission Subcommittee on Social Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
Scott has received numerous awards and recognitions for his public service, legal and community work.
The Las Vegas Chapter of National Bar Association (LVNBA), recognized the Las Vegas City Attorney’s Office as the “Law Firm Of the Year” on October 8, 2022 for its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts at the LVNBA’s 41st Annual Awards and Scholarship Gala.
Scott was honored by the Clark County Black Caucus on February 1, 2022 as one of Nevada’s Black Law Trailblazers. He spoke to a panel of distinguished Nevada Legal “firsts”, during the Las Vegas Mob Museum’s “Leaders in Law” Black History Month Program.
The International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA), presented Scott with the “The Burk E. Buck” Delventhal Legal Advocacy and Education Award on October 1, 2021 at its Annual Meeting in Minneapolis.
The State Bar of Nevada presented Scott the “Trailblazer Award” in June 2021. It also awarded him the Inaugural Bryan K. Scott Trailblazer Award at its Annual Meeting on Coronado Island.
Since 2020, Scott is a member on the International Municipal Lawyers Association’s Board of Directors.
Scott was awarded the James M. Bartley Distinguished Public Lawyer by the Public Lawyers Section of Nevada, Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
The Nevada Association of Real Estate Brokers named Scott “Trailblazer of Year” in 2019.
Scott was named “Attorney-of-the Year” by the Las Vegas Chapter, National Bar Association in September 2018.
The Las Vegas Chapter of National Bar Association honored Scott in 2019 with the awarding and establishment of the “Bryan K. Scott Book Scholarship for Law Students.”
The Asian American Advocacy Clinic awarded Scott the “Unsung Hero Award” in 2018.
Scott was the Keynote Speaker and was awarded the “Educational Pioneer Award by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach” in 2017.
Nevada Business Magazine recognized Scott as “Legal Elite: Nevada’s Top Attorneys (Government),” in 2012, 2015 and 2016.
During its 2006 annual Scholarship Gala, the Las Vegas Chapter was proud to honor Scott.
Scott was awarded the Martin P. Dowling Volunteer Award by the Clark County Bar Association in 2005
Scott received the Circle of Support Award from Clark County Bar Association in 2002.
Scott has been a speaker at numerous community events, Continuing Legal Education sessions (CLE) sessions, and acted as a panelist. He also authored many articles on various subjects, including Cannabis regulation, Special Improvement Districts, (SIDs), Appearing in front of an administrative agency, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Nevada African American Attorney “firsts”, among other topics for the State Bar of Nevada’s Nevada Lawyer Magazine, Clark County Bar Association’s Communique’ Magazine, and other legal publications.
Dr. Brittnie Watkins, Board Member, Nevada Gaming Control Board 
Former Governor Sisolak appointed Dr. Brittnie WATTINS a Board Member to the Nevada Gaming Control Board in May 2021. She later appointed her as Chairperson and Executive Director. From November 21, 2022 to January 29, 2023, she was in this role. Her term as a member of the board is effective until January 26, 2025.
After practicing complex commercial litigation with Pisanelli Bice PLLC, Dr. Watkins was appointed a gaming regulator. Her areas of practice included both appellate and trial level gaming and hotel litigation.
Before litigating, Dr. Watkins was a judicial clerk to Justice Michael Douglas (Ret.). She was a Supreme Court of Nevada judge, where she assisted in making precedential legal decisions that covered everything from gaming and intellectual property to constitutional and real estate issues.
She was the first Black woman elected to the State Bar of Nevada Board of Governors in 2020. This board oversees Nevada’s legal profession.
Two bachelor’s degrees were earned by Dr. Watkins at Michigan State University. She received high marks in psychology and criminal justice. Additionally, she holds a master’s in criminal justice, doctor of philosophical in educational psychology, juris Doctor, and master of law in gaming and regulation from University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
She was awarded the Nevada Law Journal Dissertation of the Year Award and the Barbara Buckley Community Service Award. She is an avid advocate for the community and has spent hundreds of hours helping to provide pro bono representation.
Her dedication to excellence and service earned her the Access to Justice Award of Excellence by Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada. She also received the Silver Service Award of the Public Interest Law Association, the Circle of Support Award of Clark County Bar Association and the UNLV 2021 Boyd School of Law Alumni of the year Award.