NEW HAMPSHIRE ASSOCIATION FOR JUSTICE AWARDS
The Civil Justice Award was established in 1996 to recognize individuals who have demonstrated a long-term commitment to the goals for which the New Hampshire Association for Justice was established, namely, “to promote the administration of justice for the public good,…to uphold the honor and dignity of the profession of law,…to uphold the right of trial by jury,…to preserve and enhance the rights of persons to have access to the Courts and our system of justice,…and to afford everyone a full, fair and timely remedy for wrongs done. “ In short, this award recognizes outstanding commitment to the improvement and preservation of the American civil justice system. The award is not limited to members of the NHAJ or even to attorneys.
Year Recipient
2016 Chief Justice Tina Nadeau, Judge Sawako Gardner, Judge James Leary (Drug Courts)
2015 Peter S. Smith, Esq. (posthumously)
2014 Claire Ebel, NH Civil Liberties Union
2013 New Hampshire Legal Assistance
2012 The Concord Monitor
2011 Hon. Kenneth R. McHugh, Associate Justice of New Hampshire Supreme Court
2010 Rep. Peter R. Leischman, New Hampshire General Court
2009 Dean John D. Hutson, Franklin Pierce Law Center
(formerly the Special Recognition Award)
Special recognition is given periodically to attorneys in New Hampshire who, in the course of zealously representing their clients, pursue and help achieve substantive changes in the law of the state which improve our civil justice system, enhance the rights of citizens’ access to the courts, preserve the right of trial by jury or enhance the right of everyone to attain full, fair and timely remedies for civil wrongs.
Year Recipient
2016 Leslie Johnson & Ellen Purcell
2015 Nancy Richards-Stower
2014 No Award Given
2013 Brian C. Shaughnessy, Esq.
2012 Barbara R. Keshen and Jon Meyer for their work on Doyle v. Commissioner
2008 Andru H. Volinsky, Scott F. Johnson, John E. Tobin, Jr., and Tom P. Connair for their work protecting the constitutional
rights of children in New Hampshire in the Claremont lawsuits
2007 Kevin M. Leach for his work in Desclos v. Southern New Hampshire Medical Center
2005 Edward M. Van Dorn, Jr. and Robin C. Curtiss for their work in Knapp v. Tennesse Pipeline
The Board of Governors Award is presented to a member or associate member of NHAJ who has demonstrated exemplary support of the Association and its goals over an extended period of time through the volunteering of his or her time and expertise and/or financial support.
Year Recipient
2016 Christine Craig
2015 Jared O'Connor and Anna G. Zimmerman
2014 William C. Woodbury
2013 Robin C. Curtiss
2012 Ralph F. Holmes
2011 Kevin F. Dugan
2010 Gary B. Richardson
2009 David L. Nixon
The President’s Award is given annually to the individual who, in the opinion of the President, has been of outstanding service to the Association and of particular help to the President of the year of the award. The award is not limited to members of the Association but may be presented to anyone who assists the Association in achieving its objectives for that year.
Year Recipient
2016 Thomas Watson
2015 Amanda Gazlay
2014 Anna G. Zimmerman
2013 Maureen Manning
2012 William Woodbury
2011 Paul W. Chant
2010 Ellen H. Shemitz
2009 Timothy C. Coughlin
NHAJ Lifetime Achievement Award