Daily Briefs, May 11

MJA accepting nominations for annual judicial excellence award
Michigan Judges Association President Annette Jurkiewicz Berry announced that the MJA is accepting nominations for its Hilda Gage Judicial Excellence Award.
Presented annually, the award recognizes current or former Circuit or Court of Appeals Judges who have demonstrated exemplary service by excelling in trial and docket management, legal scholarship, and contributions to the profession and the community.
Last year, the award was renamed to honor the late Hilda Gage. Judge Gage served with honor on the Court of Appeals and Oakland Circuit Bench before passing away in 2010.  She was renowned for her courage and scholarship.  She was the first female president of MJA and the first woman to chair the Judicial Tenure Commission.
The Hon. J. Richardson Johnson, of the Ninth Circuit Court in Kalamazoo, received the award last year in its inaugural year.
Judge Berry said that MJA seeks nominees who follow in Judge Gage’s footsteps by “serving their state and their communities with integrity, skill, and courage every day.”
Anyone can nominate a judge for the award. The deadline is June 15.  Nominating forms can be obtained on the Michigan Judges Association website at www.michiganjudgesassociation.org, or by calling MJA President-Elect Timothy G. Hicks at (231) 724-6337.

SBM’s third annual Spring Pro Bono workshop slated for May 25
“Nurturing Pro Bono: An interactive workshop for Michigan’s pro bono coordinators” will be presented from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25 at the State Bar of Michigan’s Michael Franck Building in Lansing. The State Bar’s Pro Bono Initiative presents this third annual spring workshop free of charge to those who register in advance.
This year’s event is a “hands-on” workshop for non-profit directors, pro bono managers and coordinators, and their staff.
“The spring pro bono workshop is a great opportunity for pro bono coordinators to share and expand successful methods of matching clients with attorneys to help address the tremendous unmet legal needs of Michigan’s poor,” noted SBM President W. Anthony Jenkins.
State Bar Executive Director Janet Welch will be a guest speaker.
This year’s workshop sessions will include topics such as “Fundraising for Pro Bono Programs,” “The Nuts and Bolts of a Successful Pro Bono Program,” and “How to Engage Large Firms with Pro Bono.” Lunch will be provided. To register for the workshop visit www.michbar.org/programs/ProBonoPower.cfm. For more information, contact Robert Mathis at rmathis@mail.michbar.org or (517) 346-6412.

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