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Judicial Honors – Vol. 106 No. 3

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Vol. 106 No. 3 (2023) | Forging New Trails | Download PDF Version of Article

The Georgetown Center for the Constitution held a memorial event honoring Judge LAURENCE H. SILBERMAN, a longtime judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, who died in October. Judge Silberman’s former colleagues and law clerks, including Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, described him as a principled and exacting jurist and a caring, engaging friend. Read more »


Judge NAN WALLER of Oregon’s Multnomah County Circuit Court received the 27th Annual William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence from the National Center for State Courts. During her 30 years of public service, Judge Waller has led innovations in the court’s approaches to family law, mental health, and racial equity while also managing updates to the court’s electronic filing, case management, and planning systems. Read more »


Judge Carabello

Judge TINA L. CARABALLO of Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit received the Florida Courts 2022 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence. Judge Caraballo was recognized for her exceptional commitment to the judicial branch and her leadership in streamlining court operations during the COVID pandemic. Judge Caraballo is a former specialist in the United States Army. Read more »


The Memphis Federal Building was renamed in honor of the late Judge ODELL HORTON of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. Judge Odell was the first Black assistant U.S. attorney and federal judge in West Tennessee post-Reconstruction. Read more »


Justice Liu

Judge Gregory

Justice GOODWIN LIU of the California Supreme Court and Chief Judge ROGER GREGORY of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit were among the four recipients of the American Bar Association’s 2023 Spirit of Excellence Award. The award honors personal and professional excellence and a commitment to racial and ethnic diversity in the law. Read more »


Judge KEVEN M.P. O’GRADY of the 10th Judicial District of Kansas received the 2022 Mary C. McQueen Award at the National Center for State Court’s Conference of Chief Justices. Judge O’Grady founded the Johnson County Self-Help Center, which has provided guidance to 30,000 court patrons navigating the legal system, and holds night court monthly for people who struggle to appear during the day. Read more » 


The federal building and courthouse in Wheeling, W. Va., was renamed in honor of Judge FREDERICK P. STAMP of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia. Judge Stamp, now on inactive senior status, served for 32 years and was described by Congressman David McKinley as a “steadfast and respected pillar of West Virginia and leader in this community.” Read more »


Judge SARAH S. VANCE of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana was awarded the 2022 Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award. The award is considered among the highest honors in the American judiciary, recognizing “significant contributions to the administration of justice, the advancement of the rule of law, and the improvement of society as a whole.” Read more »


Judge Donald

The National Judicial College awarded its highest honor, the Sandra Day O’Connor Award, to Senior Judge BERNICE B. DONALD of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Throughout her career, Judge Donald has been recognized as a trailblazer; from becoming the first African American women judge in Tennessee in 1982 to becoming the first African American woman appointed to the Sixth Circuit. Judge Donald still serves on the Judicial Branch Committee of the U.S. Judicial Conference and on the Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules. Read more »


Judge Griffith

The National Law Journal presented retired Judge THOMAS GRIFFITH of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit with a lifetime achievement award. Judge Griffith devoted his career to public service across the political spectrum. He served as the U.S. Senate’s chief legal officer during the impeachment trial of President Clinton and as an appointee to President Biden’s Commission on the Supreme Court. Read more »


Judge GARY COLEY JR. of the 74th District Court of Texas received the Judicial Innovation and Leadership Award from the Texas Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Judge Coley founded the Heart of Texas Human Trafficking Coalition and has championed innovative approaches to pre-petition legal representation and state service to youth involved in both the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. Read more »


Malheur County Circuit Court Judge LUNG HUNG received the Oregon Supreme Court Chief’s Award from then-Supreme Court Justice Martha Walters last fall. The award recognizes outstanding dedication and service to those who depend on the judicial branch. Hung was honored for his leadership of the circuit court’s implementation of Oregon’s eCourt electronic filing and case management system and his efforts to promote an expert list to connect judges with peers with expertise in a particular area of the law, among other accomplishments. Read more »


Judge Williams headshot

Judge Williams

Akron Municipal Court Judge ANNALISA S. WILLIAMS received the Ritter Award, the highest honor given by the Ohio State Bar Foundation. The award recognizes a lifetime of service, professionalism, integrity, and ethics in the practice of law, as well as efforts to improve the justice system in Ohio. Since 2005, Judge Williams has presided over the nationally recognized Mental Health Court. She also developed the Reading Advancement Program and the Peace of Mind Program, which received the state bar’s 2018 Innovative Court Programs and Practices Award. Read more »


Connecticut state and local officials dedicated and named a swimming pool at Manchester High School for the late Judge DOMINIC J. SQUATRITO, who served on the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut from 1994 to 2004; he served as a senior judge from 2004 until his death in 2021 at the age of 82. In addition to his distinguished judicial and legal career, Judge Squatrito was a decorated high school and college athlete. He set Manchester High’s diving record in 1957 with a score of 65.83, a record that stood for 25 years. Read more »


The Salvation Army honored Ohio’s Summit County Probate Judge ELINORE MARSH STORMER with its 18th annual Community Medal Award. The award recognizes organizations or individuals who make a significant impact in Greater Akron through professional and volunteer work. Judge Stormer started the first municipal drug court and the first mental health specialty court in Ohio. Read more »


Judge Diane P. Wood named director of The American Law Institute

The Council of the American Law Institute (ALI) named DIANE P. WOOD, senior judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, as its director designate. The ALI is the leading independent organization in the United States producing scholarly work to clarify, modernize, and otherwise improve the law. When she assumes the role of director in May, Judge Wood will be the first woman to hold the position.

Judge Wood

“We are so pleased that Diane Wood will be our new director and so confident in our future under her leadership,” said ALI President David F. Levi. “Diane has had a distinguished and storied career committed to the rule of law. From academia to private practice to government service to her time on the court, she is a brilliant legal thinker and has made her mark on many fields, including antitrust and international law. She is also a skillful leader and trusted colleague. As we enter our second century, we are so fortunate to be able to work with her as ALI director.”

Judge Wood was appointed to the Seventh Circuit in 1995 and served as its chief judge from 2013 to 2020. She is also a senior lecturer in law at the University of Chicago Law School and a member of the Bolch Judicial Institute Advisory Board. As ALI director, Judge Wood will continue as a judicial officer and will not receive compensation or participate in ALI fundraising. Read more »

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