Dec. 16, 2009 – The State Bar Bench and Bar Committee is searching for two outstanding jurists to honor with its annual judicial awards. Nominations are sought for the 2009 Judge of the Year and Lifetime Jurist Achievement awards. The awards will be presented at the 2010 State Bar Annual Convention in Madison, May 5-7.
“The Bench and Bar Committee welcomes the chance to honor members of Wisconsin’s judiciary with these awards,” says Kelli Thompson, committee chair. “The public service of our circuit court judges demonstrates their commitment to justice and to the people of Wisconsin. We encourage nominations from the Bar as well as the public to recognize individual judges whose outstanding leadership advances the quality of justice.”
The Judge of the Year Award recognizes a circuit court judge who has improved the judicial system during the past year by his or her leadership in advancing the quality of justice, judicial education, or innovative programs. High ideals, personal character, judicial competence, and community involvement are hallmarks of the award recipient.
Past recipients include judges Tom R. Wolfgram, Frederic W. Fleishauer, Kitty K. Brennan, Mark S. Gempeler, John J. Perlich, Gerald C. Nichol, Maxine A. White, Gary L. Carlson, Michael P. Sullivan, Harold V. Froehlich, Dennis J. Barry, and Thomas H. Barland.
The Lifetime Jurist Achievement Award recognizes a jurist has served more than one full term as a circuit court judge and has demonstrated outstanding, long-term judicial service during his or her years as a sitting judge.
Past recipients include judges Michael N. Nowakowski , Neal P. Nettesheim, Michael J. Skwierawski, Edward R. Brunner, Lee E. Wells, Robert A. Haas, Edwin C. Dahlberg, Myron L. Gordon, P. Charles Jones, Mark J. Farnum, Patrick T. Sheedy, Peter G. Pappas, and John A. Decker.
Send letters of nomination to: Bench and Bar Committee, c/o Kris Wenzel, State Bar of Wisconsin, P.O. Box 7158, Madison, WI 53707-7158, by Jan. 15.
