ANNUAL AWARDS
The Annual Awards Committee presents the following Arkansas Bar Foundation and Arkansas Bar Association Awards:
Outstanding Lawyer Award: Given in recognition of excellence in the practice of law and outstanding contributions to the profession.
Outstanding Lawyer-Citizen Award: For recognition of outstanding participation in and excellent performance of civic responsibilities, and for demonstrating high standards of professional competence and conduct.
C.E. Ransick Award of Excellence: Given in recognition of extraordinary service to the legal profession.
James McKenzie Professionalism Award: Recognizes sustained excellence through integrity, character and leadership to the profession and the community which garners the highest honor to the legal profession.
Equal Justice Distinguished Service Award: Given in recognition of and commitment to participation in equal justice programs for the poor, including pro bono efforts through legal services programs.
Outstanding Local Bar Association Award: Recognizing outstanding activities which enhance the position and standing of the legal profession. Up to three such awards may be given annually.
The Awards Committee consists of the Foundation’s President. Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer, and the Association’s President, President-Elect, and Chair of the Young Lawyers’ Section. Nominations may be submitted by any Foundation Fellow or Association member.
SPECIAL AWARDS
The Awards Committee presents these awards periodically, when deemed appropriate, not annually.
Outstanding Lawyer-Humanitarian Award: To recognize outstanding humanitarian service.
Awards of Merit: For distinguished service of accomplishments.
Outstanding Jurist Award: Given in recognition to honor an active Federal or State Judge (retired judges or judges of senior status are eligible) who exhibits exceptional competency, efficiency, and integrity on the Bench, and, whether on and/or off the Bench has performed exemplary service to the administration of justice. The recipient must have served on the Bench for a minimum of ten years. The nominee may not be standing for election or re-election during the cycle in which the award is given.
OTHERS
Such other special awards may be established from time to time by the Awards Committee or the Foundation Board of Directors, including awards to non-attorneys.
Various other awards not under the aegis of the Awards Committee may be given including Golden Gavel Awards given by the Association President for outstanding work by committee chairs and awards by the Foundation President for excellent service to the Foundation. Foundation Writing Awards are given for outstanding legal articles published in The Arkansas Lawyer.
Persons ineligible to be selected for all named awards listed above except the Association’s Golden Gavel awards and the Foundation’s Service awards and Writing awards are: (1) Any member of the Association’s Board of Trustees; (2) Any member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors; (3) The Association’s President and President-Elect; (4) Any awards committee member; (5) Any Foundation officer; (6) The Immediate Past Presidents of the Association and Foundation.