AJS Awards

Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award

Dwight D. Opperman Award

Toni House Journalism Award
Justice Award
Herbert Harley Award
Special Merit Citation

Kathleen M. Sampson Access to Justice Award
 

The Devitt Award is named for the late Judge Edward J. Devitt and honors annually an Article III judge of national stature. Nomination deadline for the 2008 Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award has expired.  To view the guidelines for this award, click here.

Judge D. Brock Hornby of the U.S. District Court in Maine has been chosen as the recipient of the 27th Annual Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award.  Hornby was chosen by a three-member panel chaired by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy.  To view the News Release announcing this honor, click here.  The ceremony to present this award to Judge Hornby is being planned, if you wish to attend, contact Krista Maeder.

For a complete list of past recipients, click here.

The American Judicature Society created the Opperman Award in honor of Dwight D. Opperman, the former chairman and CEO of West Publishing Company. The Opperman Award is presented annually to a state judge of a trial or appellate court who has had a career of distinguished judicial service.

Recipient of the Fifth Annual Dwight D. Opperman Award for Judicial Excellence was Judith S. Kaye, former Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals.  This award was presented to her on January 6, 2009.  To view the News Release announcing this honor, click here.

Previous Opperman Award recipients include:

     2008: Judith S. Kaye, former Chief Judge of the State of New York

2007: Pascal Calogero, Jr. Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court

2006: Ronald M. George, Chief Justice, California Supreme Court

2005: Ruth V. McGregor, Chief Justice, Arizona Supreme Court
2004: Shirley S. Abrahamson, Chief Justice, Wisconsin Supreme Court

Named after the late Toni House, this award recognizes a journalist for outstanding news reporting that enhances public understanding of the courts and/or significantly improves the administration of justice.  AJS will not be accepting nominations or presenting this award to a journalist in 2009.

Howard Witt, national correspondent for the Chicago Tribune, was chosen to receive the 10th Annual Toni House Journalism Award.  Witt is the Tribune's Southwest bureau chief based out of Houston.  To view the News Release, click here.

The 2007 (9th Annual) Toni House Award was presented to a team of Chicago Tribune journalists at a ceremony in Chicago.  Click here for details.

For a list of past recipients, click here.

The Justice Award is the highest award given by the American Judicature Society.  It recognizes significant contributions to improving the administration of justice in the United States.

Janet Reno, first women Attorney General of the United States and long-time member of the American Judicature Society (AJS), was chosen as the 2009 recipient of the Society's highest honor, the Justice Award.  The award ceremony was held in Washington, D.C. on Friday, April 17, 2009. 

For a complete list of past Justice Award recipients, click here.

Named after the founder of AJS, the Harley Award is the Society's premier state award and is reserved for individuals or entities that make outstanding efforts and contributions that substantially improve the administration of justice in their state. 

William S. Richardson, former Chief Justice of the Hawai'i State Supreme Court from 1966 to 1982 was presented the Herbert Harley Award at a ceremony in Honolulu on October 30, 2008.  To view details about this ceremony, click here.

If you wish to nominate an individual or entity for this award, visit our rules/guidelines and fill out the nomination form.

A Special Merit Citation is intended to allow recognition of projects and efforts that benefit some aspect of the judicial system including those that are narrowly focused or time specific.  This award recognizes individuals, publications, state or local courts, organizations and educational institutions that make significant contributions toward improving the justice system. 

To nominate an individual, publication, court, organization or educational institution, visit the rules/guidelines and return the nomination form.

On May 18, 2007, the AJS Board of Directors approved the creation of the Kathleen M. Sampson Access to Justice Award, after long-time AJS Senior Program Associate Kathleen M. Sampson. 

This award is given annually to an individual or organization to recognize extraordinary contributions to ensuring access to justice for all. 

If you know an individual or organization that should be considered for the Access to Justice Award, please complete the following nomination form and return it to AJS.