Brandeis Alumnus Derwin L. Webb Receives William E. McAnulty Jr. Award

Jefferson Family Court Chief Judge Derwin L. Webb (B.A., ’00; J.D., ’03) was honored Feb. 12 at the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law with the William E. McAnulty Jr. Award, presented by the Kentucky Court of Justice.

Supreme Court Justice Angela McCormick Bisig presented the award during a reception at Brandeis while the Supreme Court of Kentucky was on campus to hear oral arguments.

The Judicial Branch presents the McAnulty Award each year during Black History Month to recognize individuals whose dedication and commitment to service have made a significant impact on the Kentucky Court of Justice. The award is named for the late Justice William E. McAnulty Jr., the first Black justice on the Supreme Court of Kentucky.

Judge Webb was selected for his mentorship of more than 80 Jefferson County Public Schools students, many from minority backgrounds. Beginning in the 2024–25 school year, he partnered with JCPS to address chronic absenteeism and prevent unnecessary court involvement. He later inspired four additional Family Court judges to join the effort and now volunteers in three schools.

“This honor feels less like a recognition and more like a full circle moment,” Judge Webb said, reflecting on the award bearing his mentor’s name. “Justice McAnulty taught me that the law is ultimately about people — about listening, about fairness, about humility and about lifting as you climb.”

A Louisville native, Judge Webb earned his undergraduate degree from UofL, where he played basketball, before graduating from Brandeis. He has often credited Justice McAnulty’s mentorship as formative in his decision to pursue law and public service.

The award ceremony marked a meaningful moment for the Brandeis community, underscoring the law school’s legacy of public service, mentorship and leadership within Kentucky’s judiciary.