ROOT STIMSON AWARD
The Root/Stimson Award honors a lawyer who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to community and volunteer service and to the improvement of the justice system. Named for Elihu Root and Henry L. Stimson to honor their commitment to public service, this award is presented to a lawyer admitted to practice in New York state who is actively involved in volunteer community service work. The award recognizes members of the legal profession who have given unstintingly of their time through community service activities. NOTE: The committee is not seeking nominees who have provided pro bono legal services representation. Those nominations should be submitted for consideration to the President’s Committee on Access to Justice which administers the annual pro bono award.
Presented by: Committee on Annual Awards
Contact: For more information, contact Melissa O’Clair.
Award Criteria: Award entries must have:
- A completed nomination form.
- A narrative (500 word maximum) detailing the nominee’s accomplishments. The narrative should include a detailed description of the nominee’s volunteer community service activities, including the names and organizations and dates of service. Nominees need not be members of NYSBA.
- Do NOT submit binders or other presentation materials.
NOTE: The committee is not seeking nominees who have provided pro bono legal services representation. Those nominations should be submitted for consideration to the President’s Committee on Access to Justice which administers the annual pro bono award.
Prize Awarded: Framed certificate
PAST RECIPIENTS
2024 Amanda M. Lyons, New York
2023 Stephen E. Diamond, Wappingers Falls
2022 Samantha I.V. White, Buffalo
2021 No Award Presented
2020 Lawrence W. Golden< New Hartford
2019 Professor Elora Mukherjee, New York
2018 James O’Neal, Long Island City
2017 Lesley Rosenthal, New York City
2016 Richard J. Davis, New York City
2015 Jeffrey Moerdler, New York City
2014 Thomas Beecher, Buffalo
2013 Hon. Elizabeth Wolford, Rochester
2012 Maureen Crush, Newburgh
2011 Robert M. Greene, Buffalo
2010 James B. Hurlock, New York City
2009 Thomas S. Richards, Rochester
2008 Charles C. Russo, Hauppauge
2007 Stephen J. Dannhauser, New York
2006 Arnold B. Gardner, Buffalo
2005 Michael P. Leone, Rochester
2004 No Award Presented
2003 Wayne D. Wisbaum, Buffalo
2002 Hanna S. Cohn, Rochester (posthumously)
2001 Lisa E. Cleary, New York City
2000 Archibald R. Murray, New York City
1999 Camille Sianno Enders, Albany
1998 William R. Brennan, Buffalo (posthumously)
1997 No Award Presented
1996 E.W. Dann Stevens, Buffalo
1995 Michael J. Siris, Manhasset
1994 Richard Lee Price, New York
1993 Michael J. Toohey, Saratoga
1992 Victor Marrero, New York City
1991 Dermot Groome, New York City
1990 Edward W. Pattison, Troy
1989 James R. Murdock, Jr., Ticonderoga
1988 Mary M. Coffin, Schenectady
1987 David M. Gouldin, Binghamton
1986 Emlyn I. Griffith, Rome
1985 John J. Gartland, Jr., Poughkeepsie
1984 Joseph J. Casey, Albany
1983 Arthur J. Harvey, Albany
1982 Carl R. Gitzlitz, Binghamton
1981 James A. Fitzpatrick, Plattsburgh
1980 Jay Vanderbuilt Straub, Albany
1979 John J. McCloy, New York City
1978 Hugh R. Jones, Syracuse
1977 David Sive, New York City
1976 Harry D. Goldman, Rochester
1975 Robert Michaels, Geneva
1975 William F. Fitzpatrick, Syracuse