Awards and Recognitions from the State Bar

Each year, the State Bar of Nevada recognizes individuals for their service to the bar and to the profession. The Board of Governors solicits nominations for award recipients annually, with the exception of the Presidential Award.

Past Recipients

Presidential Award

This award is presented to a State Bar of Nevada member practicing 20 years or more whose conduct, honesty and integrity represents the highest standards of the legal profession. Award recipients are those who inspire by example, advance the administration of justice and bring honor and integrity to the profession.

Past Recipients

2011: Margo Piscevich
2012: Dara Goldsmith
2013: Robert Crowell
2014: John O’Brien, R. Gardner Jolley, William Curran
2015: Peter Chase Neumann
2016: Judge Procter Hug, Jr.
2017: Donald J. Campbell
2018: William Peterson
2019: Hon. Howard McKibben
2020: Hon. Larry Hicks
2021: J. Randall Jones
2022: none presented
2023: none presented

Bryan K. Scott Trailblazer Award

The Bryan K. Scott Trailblazer Award is presented to a member of the state bar who exemplifies the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in Nevada’s legal community. Recipients are those who actively work to dismantle institutional bias and who create a welcoming and inclusive professional community by promoting awareness of diverse values, creating or supporting DEI programs, or leading by example. The award is named for its inaugural recipient, Bryan K. Scott, who was, among many other trailblazing roles, the first African American to serve as president of the State Bar of Nevada.

Past Recipients

2021: Bryan K. Scott
2022: Margo Piscevich, Franny Forsman, Dr. Ann Bersi, Hon. Gloria Sturman, Ann Price McCarthy, Hon. Nancy Allf, Kathy England, Connie Akridge, and Elana Turner Graham
2023: Hon. Johnnie B. Rawlinson

Volunteer of the Year Award

This award is presented to a member for outstanding volunteer service to the State Bar of Nevada. The selection committee gives primary consideration to nominees who have served or continue to serve on state bar committees or sections and have demonstrated a commitment to the advancement of the profession and to the protection of the public.

Past Recipients

2011: Jeff Rodefer
2012: Bob Cerceo
2013: Michael Buckley
2014: Jeffrey Albregts, J. Thomas Susich
2015: Anajali Webster, Seth Floyd, Margaret Lambrose
2016: Tracy A. DiFillippo
2017: Brandi and Jasen Cassady
2018: Mock Trial Steering Committee; Richard M. Trachok, II
2019: Mark A. Hinueber
2020: Kevin Speed and Alex Velto
2021: Claudia Aguayo and Augusta Massey
2022: none presented
2023: State Bar of Nevada LGBT Section

Young Lawyer of the Year Award

This award is presented to a young lawyer or lawyers whose professional and public service achievements merit special recognition. Although all commitments to civic participation and community service achievements that advance the state of the profession are considered, special consideration is given to contributions to the State Bar of Nevada and its Young Lawyers Section. Recipients will ordinarily be Nevada lawyers who are either under the age of 36 or who have been engaged in the practice of law from less than five years.

Past Recipients

2011: Paola Armeni
2012: none presented
2013: Scott Lachman
2015: Matt Digesti, Layke Martin
2016: none presented
2017: Karl Riley
2018: Jordan Davis
2019: Amber Handy
2020: Bronagh Kelly
2021: Ashley Biehl
2022: none presented
2023: Caleb Green

Medal of Justice

This award recognizes specific contributions of note and is not necessarily awarded each year.

Past Recipients

2011: Coe Swobe and Ben Graham
2012: Kathleen England, Prof. Rachel Anderson, Beau Sterling, Jennifer Smith, Doreen Spears Hartwell, Claytee White, Geralda Miller, Richard Boulware, Prof. Joanne Goodwin, Prof. Jeanne Price
2013: Hon. Peter Breen and Hon. Jack Lehman
2014: Justice League of Nevada – Trevor Atkin, Randy Boesch, Lorien Cole, David Dahan, Dara Goldsmith, Brigid Higgins, Caren Cafferate-Jenkins, Mary Korpi, John Krieger, Nicole Lamboley, Eleissa LaVelle, Sharon McNair
2015: Nevada Bar Foundation – Connie Akridge, Richard Pocker, Cynthia Alexander, Ann Bersi, James Bradshaw, Hon. Linda Gardner, Kirk Jacobson, Mark Knobel, Margaret Lambrose, Gene Leverty and Lori Teicher
2016: Judge Michael Fondi, Judge Merlyn Hoyt and Justice Cliff Young
2017: Nevada Legal Services, Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, Washoe Legal Services, Southern Nevada Senior Law Program, Volunteer Attorneys of Rural Nevada and Mitch Cobeaga
2018: Woodburn and Wedge law firm
2019: Dayvid Figler and Bank of Nevada
2020: The 2017-2018 Advisory Commission on the Administration of Justice
2021: Connie Akridge
2022: none presented
2023: Alice Denton, Jarien Cho, Marianne Denton, and Patrick Denton