The Honorable Robin Pittman '91, J.D. '96 Receives 2020 Adjutor Hominum Award

Loyola College of Arts and Sciences and College of Law alumna Robin Pittman '91, J.D. '96 has been named the recipient of the 2020 Adjutor Hominum Award. The highest award bestowed by the Alumni Association, the Adjutor Hominum Award honors an outstanding Loyola graduate whose life exemplifies the values and philosophy of Jesuit education—namely moral character, service to humanity, and unquestionable integrity.

Judge Pittman is a criminal court judge and former assistant district attorney in Orleans Parish. She is also a dedicated and tireless supporter of her alma mater. A native of New Orleans, Pittman enrolled at Loyola in 1987 as a sociology major. Soon after completing her undergraduate degree in 1991, she enrolled in Loyola's College of Law. Pittman was a prosecutor for several years before working in the Office of Disciplinary Counsel and then as assistant district attorney.

Motivated by a lack of equity on the bench, Pittman ran for judge in 2009. "I realized that I really didn't see many African-American female judges in criminal district court," said Pittman. She has spent the last decade presiding over criminal cases in Orleans Parish District Court's Section F and ran unopposed in the last election.

While her job requires donning the black robe and taking the bench, Pittman says she wants to combat the stereotype of judges as disengaged decision makers. So she spends much of her time out of chambers in the community, engaged in service to Loyola and visiting local schools to mentor young students. Pittman says her judicial staff often jokes about running a nursery due to the high number of elementary school classes she visits.

Her interest in her community, says Pittman, stems from her time at Loyola. "Loyola was the backbone that got me to where I am," she said. "They say, 'to whom much is given, much is expected.' And there you have it—I am giving back. One of my favorite things to do is to speak and mingle with young people because it's them you have the opportunity to help mold," said Pittman. "For me, it all comes back to that undergraduate sociology degree."