Judicial Honors: Vol. 109 No. 3

Associate Judge VERONICA ARMOUTI of Illinois’s Third Judicial Circuit received the Advocate Award from the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. Armouti was honored for her fairness, professionalism, and commitment to improving access to justice, particularly for underserved and rural communities.

Judge Bates is pictured above with Julie Opperman and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Devitt Award chair.

Judge JOHN D. BATES of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia received the 2025 Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award, considered the federal judiciary’s highest honor. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. presented the award, recognizing Bates’s leadership, including his service as director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts and presiding judge of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. Bates is a member of the Bolch Judicial Institute Advisory Board.

Chief Justice ANDREW BELL of New South Wales was named a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in the Australia Day Honours List 2026. The accolade — the nation’s highest civil honor — recognizes his eminent service to the judiciary, legal education, and the rule of law, including advocacy for Indigenous youth and legal access initiatives.

Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice STEPHEN BREYER received the 2026 O’Connor Justice Prize from Arizona State University. Breyer was recognized not only for his nearly three decades on the Supreme Court but also for his continued global advocacy promoting judicial independence, constitutional democracy, and civic education following his retirement in 2022.

Judge Raymond T. Chen

At the 104th Annual Dinner in Honor of the Federal Judiciary, the New York Intellectual Property Law Association honored Judge RAYMOND T. CHEN of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit with its Outstanding Public Service Award. The annual reception celebrates federal judicial excellence, and this award recognizes Chen’s significant public service contributions to the law and community.

Judge NICOLA HENRY-TAYLOR of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas received the Drum Major for Justice Award at the Allegheny County Bar Association’s 27th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast. The award recognizes her leadership and longstanding commitment to advancing justice and equity in the courts and legal profession.

Senior Judge MARCELLA A. HOLLAND of Baltimore City Circuit Court (ret.) received the 2026 Spirit of Excellence Award from the American Bar Association’s Commission on Racial & Ethnic Diversity in the Profession. The first African American woman to serve as circuit administrative judge in Maryland, Holland has a long record of leadership, mentorship, and service in the legal profession.

Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice P. SCOTT NEVILLE JR. received the Chicago Bar Association’s Earl B. Dickerson Award. The award recognizes minority lawyers and judges whose careers reflect Dickerson’s courage, leadership, and commitment to advancing the law as a vehicle for justice for all.

Judge Maite Oronoz Rodríguez

The American Bar Association’s Stonewall Award for 2026 will be presented to three leaders — including MAITE D. ORONOZ-RODRÍGUEZ, associate justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico — in recognition of distinguished work advancing LGBTQ+ equality and inclusion within the legal profession and judiciary. The honor underscores leadership on access to justice, institutional transparency, and legal modernization.

Missouri Supreme Court Judge MARY R. RUSSELL received the Sandra Day O’Connor Award from the National Judicial College, recognizing her outstanding judicial service and dedication to public education. Russell, a former chief justice, has championed civic engagement and worked extensively to improve public understanding of the courts.

Judge J. HARVIE WILKINSON III of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit was honored with the Outstanding Virginian Award by the Virginia General Assembly. The civilian award recognizes his exceptional contributions to law, public service, and civic leadership over a distinguished judicial career. The joint resolution highlighted his integrity, legal acumen, and decades of service on the federal bench.

The International Association of Judges (IAJ) has been nominated for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. The nomination was submitted by Even H. Eriksen, a member of the Norwegian Parliament. It recognizes the essential role of judicial independence in upholding democracy, the rule of law, and human rights, and highlights the IAJ’s longstanding commitment to these values worldwide.

MICHELLE KAMINSKY is managing editor of Judicature.