Reprinted from Center Court

A Newsletter for the Court Community from the National Center for State Courts

Winter 2003 - Vol. 6  No. 1

NCSC Honors California's Chief Justice 

with the William H. Rehnquist Award in 2002

California Chief Justice Ronald M. George recently received the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence-the most prestigious award presented by the National Center for State Courts. 

More than 250 people attended the October 24 awards ceremony in the Great Hall of the U.S. Supreme Court.  Justice Sandra Day O'Connor introduced George, calling him a "courageous, competent leader and judicial reformer the likes of whom we seldom see."  Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer also attended the event.

The Rehnquist award is presented annually to a state court judge who exemplifies the highest level of judicial excellence, integrity, fairness, and professional ethics. NCSC President Roger K. Warren called George's career extraordinary, and said he was selected as this year's recipient because "he has served at every level of the American state court system-California's municipal, superior, appellate, and supreme courts.  He has left his mark at every level-improving the justice system every step of the way."

New York Chief Judge Judith Kaye, chair of NCSC's Board of Directors and a past Rehnquist award winner, presided over the event. 

On October 25, events continued with the annual Justice Roundtable and Award Luncheon at the Park Hyatt Washington Hotel. 

The Justice Roundtable brings state chief justices together with general counsel of America's leading companies, prominent representatives of the trial bar, and NCSC's Board of Directors for dialogue on important civil justice issues. This year, potential state court solutions for the challenges presented by mass tort cases were identified. Experts on this topic included  Sheila Birnbaum of Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom; Elizabeth Cabraser of Lieff Cabraser Heinmann Bernstein; Hon. Marina Corodemus of Middlesex County, New Jersey; Professor Francis E. McGovern of Duke University School of Law; and Hon. Lee Rosenthal of the U. S. District Court in Houston.  Roger Warren served as moderator. 

As part of the Rehnquist events, the National Center held a luncheon to honor those who have supported the work and mission of The National Center.  

Chief Justice George accepts award from Chief Justice Rehnquist at ceremonies in the Great Hall of the U.S. Supreme Court.	NCSC President Roger Warren addresses the crowd of more than 250 during the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence dinner ceremony at the United States Supreme Court in October.
Participants in this year's Justice Roundtable discussed mass torts. The annual event drew a crowd of about 75 corporate attorneys, court administrators, and chief justices, including Judith Kaye, chief judge of the State of New York and chair of the NCSC Board of Directors.	New Burger Society members were inducted  during the Annual Recognition Luncheon.  Left to right: Chief Justice Gerald W. VandeWalle; Chief Justice Ellen Ash Peters; Ingo & Susan Keilitz; Theodore H. Curry II; Chief Justice Ronald George on behalf of Winslow Christian; Thomas C. Brown, Jr.; and Timothy Flanigan. Not pictured, Haliburton Fales 2nd and Jane A. Hess.

  Last updated [02/27/07 ]