Judge Lora J. Livingston (ret.) received the 2024 Judge Merrill Hartman Pro Bono Judge Award from the State Bar of Texas in recognition of her pro bono service on the 261st District Court in Travis County, Texas, where she was the first Black woman to preside over the court. Judge Livingston has been honored both in Texas and nationally for her work and advocacy for equal access to justice. Her accomplishments include overseeing the design and construction of the Travis County Civil and Family Courts facility, which includes a self-help center and law library for pro se individuals.
Chief Justice Robert M. Brutinel
Chief Justice Robert M. Brutinel of the Arizona Supreme Court was awarded the 2024 James A. Walsh Outstanding Jurist Award from the State Bar of Arizona. This award honors a judge whose career exemplifies the highest standard of conduct, integrity, and judicial independence. He was appointed to the Arizona Supreme Court in 2010 and has been chief justice since July 1, 2019. Throughout his career, Chief Justice Brutinel has served on numerous boards and commissions and currently chairs the Arizona Supreme Court Steering Committee on Artificial Intelligence and the Courts. He is a graduate of Duke Law’s Master of Judicial Studies program and a member of Judicature’s editorial advisory board.
Nevada District Court Judge Nathan Tod Young received the 2024 Advanced Achievement in Judicial Education by the Nevada Supreme Court. The award honors judges who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to supporting continuing education. In receiving the award, Judge Young commented that what remains most important to him is that judicial education programs promote the community’s confidence in their judges.
Judge Jennifer Klapper, a justice of the peace for the Tonopah Justice Court, was awarded the 2024 Nevada Judges of Limited Jurisdiction’s “Judge of the Year” Award. Judge Klapper received the award for her service to the court, and, in particular, her leadership on several local and national committees, including the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and the American Judges Association.
Judge Olympia Z. Fay of Denver County Court was awarded the Colorado Women’s Bar Association’s 2024 Judicial Excellence Award, which recognizes judges who have advocated for and supported women in the legal profession. She was recognized for her service to the legal profession and the community as a mentor and role model for many young students, attorneys, and women. According to Judge Fay, some of the most rewarding aspects of serving on the bench are the daily courtroom interactions where everyone has an equal opportunity to be heard and showing humanity to people during extremely difficult times.
Senior Judge David O. Nuffer of the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah was honored with the 2024 Judge of the Year Award at the Utah State Bar Spring Convention. The award recognizes judges who help improve Utah’s legal system. Judge Nuffer was honored for his service to the legal community as a judge and as an adjunct professor at BYU. He is a graduate of Duke Law’s Master of Judicial Studies program.
Judge Mondonna Ghasedi
Judge Mondonna Ghasedi of Missouri’s 21st Judicial Circuit received the Missouri Lawyers Media 2024 Women’s Justice Award in the category of public service. Since 1999, the award has honored women lawyers, law students, rising stars, public officials, and others who have displayed professional excellence in Missouri’s courtrooms and boardrooms.
Hattiesburg Municipal Court Judge Wes Curry of Mississippi was honored with the 2024 Judge Stephen S. Goss Memorial Award for Leadership, which celebrates the work of judges and psychiatrists who exemplify a lifetime of achievement and commitment to bettering the justice system. Judge Curry was recognized for improving services for those who enter the justice system with behavioral health needs, particularly in treatment court programs, where he worked with community colleges to develop GED programs and workforce development classes at no cost to court program participants. He also authored the request for an official opinion by the Mississippi state attorney general on the conditional forgiveness of fines and court costs for participants who attend and complete GED or workforce programming.
The Mississippi Bar announced two judges as recipients of 2024 awards for their contributions to the legal profession. Judge Carol Jones Russell of Forrest County Court in Hattiesburg was nominated by colleagues for her exemplary work in the Forrest County Youth Court. Judge Toni Walker Terrett of Mississippi’s Ninth Judicial District in Vicksburg received the Distinguished Service award for her service as circuit court judge and presiding judge for the Ninth District Intervention Court, which provides treatment and attention for substance abuse, addictions, and mental illness.
Judge Maria Kahn
Judge Maria Kahn of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit was awarded the 2024 Henry J. Naruk Judiciary Award from the Connecticut Bar Association. The award recognizes the state’s legal professionals who make a difference through their work and demonstrate dedication, service, and mentorship among other exemplary qualities. Judge Kahn was recognized for her contributions to the administration of justice in Connecticut, including her significant role in addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion issues during her time on the Connecticut Supreme Court.
Chief Judge R. Mark Browning (ret.) and Judge Trish K. Morikawa
Chief Judge R. Mark Browning (ret.) and Judge Trish K. Morikawa, both of Hawaii’s First Circuit Court, received the 2024 Distinguished Service Award from the Hawaii Women Lawyers organization. The award recognized Judge Browning for 28 years of stellar service to the judiciary and community in Hawaii. Judge Morikawa was recognized for her leadership in creating a program focused on women in the criminal justice system.
ORIA WILSON-IGUADE is a Duke Law student and Judicature research assistant.
