Named in honor of Kay Crawford Murray, this award honors an individual, who in the spirit of Ms. Murray, recognizes the value of diversity in the legal profession and is committed to advancing attorneys who are women. Murray, who passed away in 2018, was the first recipient of the award in 2008.
The award recognizes those who have made a major contribution to international peace, global understanding, and democracy. UNODA will receive the award on Jan. 27 during NYSBA’s Annual Meeting.
Justice Kennedy will receive the 2021 John E. Higgins, Esq. Diversity Trailblazer Award and Justice Chambers will receive the inaugural Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Beacon Award — both awards are being presented by the Committee on Diversity and Inclusion.
The award was established in 2012 to honor the legacy of Samuel E. Kaynard, a nationally recognized expert in the field of labor law and labor-management relations. To be considered, students must be enrolled at one of New York’s 15 law schools and be nominated by their dean or a professor or practicing attorney.
Scott Fein of Albany, senior partner of Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna, is the 2021 recipient of the Jonathan Lippman Pro Bono Award presented by the 50+ Lawyers Section of the New York State Bar Association.
Fein will receive his award on Jan. 28 during the association’s Annual Meeting. The award recognizes dedicated senior members of the legal profession who have generously provided pro bono service in New York.
Leon T. Sawyko (Harris Beach) will receive the Real Property Law Section’s Attorney Professionalism Award on Jan. 21 and Heather Neu, an attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Rochester, has been named the Young Lawyers Section Outstanding Young Lawyer and will be honored on Jan. 27.
Elissa Rosenthal of Roslyn Heights (Franchina Law Group) will receive the General Practice Section Award on Jan. 19.
Tricia Prettypaul of Valley Stream (Travelers Companies) recently received the Trial Lawyers Section Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Vanguard Award.
The Adelman Award seeks to recognize the outstanding efforts of attorneys, judges, court administrators or defendants, that have supported the criminal justice system during the COVID-19 pandemic. The award is named in honor of the late Martin B. Adelman, a highly respected attorney and brilliant advocate who served as chair of the Criminal Justice section from 1991 to 1993.
We are deeply disturbed by the actions of Hong Kong authorities last week in invoking national security law to suppress peaceful advocacy of self-government by the people of Hong Kong.
This decision is historic for NYSBA, and we have not made it lightly. We cannot stand idly by and allow those intent on rending the fabric of our democracy to go unchecked.