Judicial Civility - Judge of the Year
Award History
In 1998, the LA Chapter Executive Committee decided to present a Jurist of the Year Award to
an outstanding Judge within the local and federal judiciary community. Originally, the award
was presented at the annual President's Dinner Dance in February but in 2007, President
Steve Glickman felt the annual Judicial Reception would be more appropriate. It was also at
this time the Executive Committee decided to give a Clerk of the Year Award to honor the
judicial assistants. In 2005 the judicial award was renamed for ABOTA's own Honorable
William J. Rea.
Judicial Civility/Judge of the Year Award Recipients:
| 2024 |
Hon. Rupert Byrdsong |
| 2023 |
Hon. Samantha Jessner |
| 2022 |
Hon. Ruth Ann Kwan |
| 2021 |
Not Awarded |
| 2020 |
Not Awarded |
| 2019 |
Hon. Mark Mooney |
| 2018 |
Hon. Margaret L. Oldendorf |
| 2017 |
Hon. Gerald Rosenberg |
| 2016 |
Hon. Stephen M. Moloney |
| 2015 |
Hon. Kevin Brazile |
| 2014 |
Hon. Daniel J. Buckley |
| 2013 |
Hon. Frederick Shaller |
| 2012 |
Hon. Richard Stone |
| 2011 |
Hon. Emilie Elias |
| 2010 |
Hon. Michael Harwin |
|
| 2009 |
Hon. Lee Smalley Edmon |
| 2008 |
Hon. Joe W. Hilberman |
| 2007 |
Hon. Richard D. Aldrich |
| 2006 |
Hon. Victoria G. Chaney |
| 2005 |
Hon. Gregory O'Brien, Jr. |
| 2004 |
Hon. Steven R. Van Sicklen |
| 2003 |
Hon. Patti S. Kitching |
| 2002 |
Hon. Alan B. Haber |
| 2001 |
Hon. Robert Letteau |
| 2000 |
Hon. Wendell H. Mortimer |
| 1999 |
Hon. Victor E. Chavez |
| 1998 |
Hon. William A. Maclaughlin |
|
Lee B. Wenzel Civility Award
Award History
The Lee B. Wenzel Civility award was established in 1993 and awarded the first time to the Hon. William J. Rea in 1994.
"The Los Angeles Chapter of ABOTA awards the Lee B. Wenzel Civility award to the attorney who
regularly demonstrates qualities of professionalism, civility, graciousness and high moral and ethical
standards as exemplified by the late Lee B. Wenzel."
The Chapter President appoints a committee to research nominees and polls the membership for
nominations. These names are presented at a meeting of the Executive Committee. The Executive
Committee votes to determine who will be the recipient. The recipient is honored during the Annual
Installation Dinner Dance held during the first quarter of the following year.
Los Angeles ABOTA Lee B. Wenzel Civility Award Recipients:
| 2024 |
Edith Matthai |
| 2023 |
Donna Melby |
| 2022 |
Michael Schonbuch |
| 2021 |
Robert A. Morgenstern |
| 2020 |
Michael J. Trotter |
| 2019 |
Geoffrey Wells |
| 2018 |
Linda Miller Savitt |
| 2017 |
Phillip A. Baker |
| 2016 |
John A. “Jack” Girardi |
| 2015 |
Thomas F. McAndrews |
| 2014 |
Moses Lebovits |
| 2013 |
Randolph M. Even |
| 2012 |
Stephen C. Pasarow |
| 2011 |
Walter Yoka |
| 2010 |
Mark D. Wenzel |
| 2009 |
Steven C. Glickman |
|
| 2008 |
Richard D. Carroll |
| 2007 |
Peter Q. Ezzell |
| 2006 |
David B. Casselman |
| 2005 |
Michael M. Gless |
| 2004 |
Darrell A. Forgey |
| 2003 |
Harold J. Hunter, Jr. |
| 2001 |
Bruce Broillet |
| 2000 |
David O'Keefe |
| 1999 |
Louis H. “Duke” DeHaas |
| 1998 |
David R. Glickman |
| 1997 |
George R. Hillsinger |
| 1996 |
*George Moore |
| 1995 |
John P. McNicholas |
| 1994 |
Hon. William J. Rea |
|
Judicial Assistant of the Year
Judicial Assistant/Clerk of the Year Award Recipients:
| 2024 |
Michelle Knipprath |
| 2023 |
Rigoberto Henry Inostroza |
| 2022 |
Nicole Payne |
| 2021 |
Not Awarded |
| 2020 |
Not Awarded |
| 2019 |
Dan Brostoff |
| 2018 |
Theresa R. McGonigle |
| 2017 |
Ruben Juarez |
| 2016 |
Robert E. Lee |
| 2015 |
Elmer Sabalburo |
| 2014 |
Connie Rodriguez |
| 2013 |
Felipe Rojas |
| 2012 |
Jeff Lipp |
| 2011 |
Jeff Charles |
| 2010 |
Kent Tobey |
| 2009 |
Not Awarded |
| 2008 |
Gloria Tapanes |
H. Gilbert Jones, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients:
| 2022 |
H. Gilbert Jones, Jr. (Posthumously) |
| 2018 |
Louis "Duke" DeHaas |
| 2012 |
David R. Glickman |
| 2007 |
John P. "Jack" Daniels |
| 2006 |
Robert N. Stone |
| 2004 |
Kermit J. Morgan |
| 2002 |
William J. Rea |
