2010 NAWJ AWARD RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED

The National Association of Women Judges is pleased to announce the recipients of its Annual Awards for 2010. At the end of one of its most engaging conferences ever, San Francisco, Open Your Golden Gate, held in downtown San Francisco from October 13-17, 2010, the organization recognized its year of achievements and looked on into 2011.

The recipient of the Joan Dempsey Klein Award is Hon. Ronald M. George, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court California. The Honoree of the Year Award honors a judge who brings distinction to their office and to the National Association of Women Judges as exemplified by NAWJ's founder, Justice Joan Dempsey Klein. Chief Justice George is the first Chief Justice of California that allocated significant quantities of the judicial branch's resources to create structural changes addressing the legal and ethical problems associated with access to justice, particularly to the needs of families and children. He has served as Chief since 1996 and is a longtime member of NAWJ. He is the recipient of numerous awards including Children's Advocacy Award from Los Angeles Legal Services for Children; Foster Care Awareness Campaign Recognition; George Moscone Award for Outstanding Public Service; Foundation of the State Bar's Justice Award; Bar Association of San Francisco's Champion of Justice Award and the Burton Reform in Law Award and many others.

The recipient of the Vaino Spencer Leadership Award is Hon. Brenda Stith Loftin, Judge, of the St. Louis County Circuit Court in Missouri. An NAWJ Past President (2006-2007) Judge Loftin's outstanding leadership in promoting the vision, core values, and mission of NAWJ, as exemplified by California Court of Appeals Justice Vaino Spencer's career continues to inspire fellow judges, legal professionals and young people across the country. Judge Loftin created NAWJ's Color of Justice program which is presented to hundreds of secondary school students every year. Judge Loftin was the instrumental leadership in driving NAWJ's most recent strategic planning process which guides the organization today.

The recipient of the Mattie Belle Davis Award is Hon. Debra A. James Justice of the Supreme Court in New York City. This award recognizes an NAWJ member who has goes above and beyond their role as a member and a volunteer to help make a difference in the organization in furtherance of the NAWJ mission. Judge James has been an active member of NAWJ since 1997, and is a member if NAWJ's Women in Prison Committee.

The recipient of the Florence K. Murray Award is Kelly M. Dermody, Esq. Ms. Dermody is a partner at the firm of Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP in San Francisco, California. The Florence K. Murray Award was instituted by its namesake, the Honorable Florence K Murray, for presentation to a non-judge who by example or otherwise, has influenced women to pursue legal careers, opened doors for women attorneys, or advance opportunities for women within the legal profession. Ms. Dermody's exemplary skills as a litigator and her professionalism has been recently recognized in May 2010 when she was named one of the top 100 female litigators in California by the Daily Journal. Ms. Dermody is actively involved in the legal community and has serves on many committees of the Bar Association of San Francisco as well the American Bar Association and on the Resource Board of NAWJ.

Members of the 2010 Awards Selection Committee included: Chair, Linda Strite Murnane, International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, The Hague; Katherine Bacal, San Diego Superior Court, San Diego, CA; Diana Eagon, Hennepin County District Court (Ret.), Nokomis, FL; Sandra Farragut-Hemphill, St. Louis County Circuit Court, St Louis, MO; Sandra Robinson, State of New Jersey, Newark, NJ; Diana Becton Smith, Contra Costa Superior Court, Martinez, CA; Sandra Thompson, Los Angeles Superior Court, Torrance, CA; and Barbara Zuñiga, Board Liaison, Contra Costa Superior Court, Martinez, CA.

The awards will be presented at the NAWJ Annual Conference to be held in San Francisco at its annual Awards Banquet on Saturday, October 16, 2010 at the Ritz Carlton in San Francisco. For more information contact Marie Komisar at 202-393-0222 ext. 11.