Judge Mary Jane Trapp of the Ohio 11th District Court of Appeals received Case Western Reserve School of Law’s 2024 Centennial Medal Award, which recognizes excellence and leadership in the legal field. Judge Trapp has served on numerous committees, task forces, and commissions and is immediate past president of the William K. Thomas American Inn of Court.
Judge Wise
California Superior Court Judge Noël Wise received the 2024 Rose Bird Memorial Award, which recognizes, among other criteria, excellent jurists who inspire women lawyers and judges. Judge Wise was honored for her extraordinary efforts to help women judges from Afghanistan resettle in California. Through the National Association of Women Judges, Judge Wise helped women judges rebuild their lives, homes, and careers after fleeing the Taliban’s return to power.
Two Florida judges received the 2024 Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence. Judge Sherri L. Collins of Florida’s Palm Beach County Court was recognized for establishing the 15th Judicial Circuit Mental Health Court and for her commitment to judicial education. Judge Ari Abraham Porth of Florida’s 17th Circuit Court was honored for his work to improve the court’s mental health services, having served as chair of the 17th Circuit’s Mental Health Task Force and as a member of the Florida Judicial Wellness Program Committee and the Justice Unit.
Justice William W. Bedsworth of the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three, and Judge Terry B. Friedman of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County each received the state judicial branch’s 2024 Distinguished Service Award. A syndicated columnist who frequently writes and teaches about the law, Justice Bedsworth advocates for civility in the courtroom and has served on California’s Civility Task Force. Judge Friedman works to improve access to justice through his service as chair of the Judicial Council’s Shriver Civil Counsel Act Implementation Committee and on numerous advisory groups and committees.
Senior Judge M. Margaret McKeown of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit received the 2024 American Inns of Court Lewis F. Powell Jr. Award for Professionalism and Ethics for her dedication to justice and for advancing higher standards of ethics and professionalism. She has served as president of the Federal Judges Association, as chair of the Codes of Conduct Committee of the Judicial Conference of the U.S., and on the Judicial Conduct and Disability Committee.
Judge Humetewa
U.S. District Judge Diane Humetewa of the District of Arizona received the 2024 Chief Standing Bear Prize for Courage from the Chief Standing Bear Prize for Courage Project, which honors Native Americans who exemplify the spirit of Standing Bear by doing what is right, rather than what is expedient. Judge Humetewa, who is Hopi, became the first Native American female district judge when she was nominated and confirmed to her seat in 2014. The award honors her service as a voice for justice in prosecuting crimes on tribal lands and protecting cultural resources.
Judge Marcia Hirsch received the 2024 Judge Stephen S. Goss Lifetime Achievement award from the Judges and Psychiatrists Leadership Initiative of the Council of State Governments Justice Center, which recognizes judges and psychiatrists who are working to improve outcomes for people with behavioral health needs in the criminal justice system. Judge Hirsch is the presiding judge of the Queens Drug Treatment Court, the DWI Treatment Court, the Mental Health Court, the Veterans Court, and the Drug Diversion Court in Queens, New York, where she consistently “promotes an atmosphere of hope, recovery, and safety from shame and adversity through the active creation of a trauma-informed community.” Judge Wes Curry of the Hattiesburg Municipal Court in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, received the 2024 Judge Stephen S. Goss Award for his work to expand behavioral court services. He presides over the first behavioral health court and the only municipal behavioral health court in Mississippi and recently worked with local community colleges to develop a community service and education program that can lead to forgiveness of fines and court costs for participants. Judge Nancy Gertner received the 2024 Judge Stephen S. Goss Collaboration award for her work with two doctors at the Center for Law, Brain & Behavior at Massachusetts General Hospital to provide instruction and expert consultation to judges and court officers on science-informed decision-making and the behavioral science of addiction, trauma, and brain development.
Oria Wilson-Iguade is a Judicature student editor
