Awards are important symbols of public recognition for rewarding exceptionally meritorious service or outstanding achievement and other acts or services which are above and beyond what is normally expected, and which distinguish an individual among those performing similar acts or services. They are intended to recognize Marines who demonstrate exceptional service and performance of their duties.
Brigadier General Rich Marine Corps Litigator of the Year Award
The Brigadier General Michael E. Rich Litigator of the Year Award is presented annually in memory of Brigadier General Rich, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired). Brigadier General Rich was the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant from 1988 to 1990. Over his 30-year career, Brigadier General Rich served as an infantry officer, a staff judge advocate, and the Deputy Director of Judge Advocate Division. He retired from the Marine Corps on a Friday and reported for duty the following Monday at the U.S. Department of Justice, where he prosecuted cases in the Eastern District of Virginia for the next 27 years. His last contested trial closed less than two weeks before his passing on July 14, 2017. He was an exemplary litigator, and he set a standard for litigation that is worthy of emulation. The award is presented to the winner of the Mock Trial Competition held at American University Washington College of Law. Competitors are nominated by their respect LSSSs and take part in a week long litigation competition.
Defense Counsel of the Year
The DSO gives several annual awards to recognize the incredible work their counsel and legal support Marines do to defend Marines and Sailors. These awards include the Defense Counsel of the Year, the Defense Marine of the Year, the Defense Motions Practice Award, and the Academic Writing Award. Senior Defense Counsel (SDCs) and RDCs are ineligible. The Chief Defense Counsel of the Marine Corps (CDC), in consultation with the DSO Highly Qualified Experts, the Officer in Charge, Defense Counsel Assistance Program, and the Reserve Chief Defense Counsel of the Marine Corps, will select the overall DSO DECOY from the RDC DECOY.
Judge Advocate Association Outstanding Career Armed Services Attorney Award
This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the Armed Services by career attorneys serving as Judge Advocates. The awards are presented at a banquet held each year in the National Capital Region. Each service is invited to nominate candidates who are serving on active duty or in a reserve or guard status. The Judge Advocate General of each branch of service, along with the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, participate in the selection process. Nominees must be at least 35 years of age and have a demonstrated record of outstanding professional accomplishments, service to community, service to the legal profession, and development of subordinates. Nominations are due annually by 15 March. For more information regarding criteria and nomination format, see http://jaa.org/awards.
Judge Advocate Association Judicial Service Award
The Judge Advocates Foundation presents its Major General William K. Suter Distinguished Judicial Service Award to a trial or appellate judge serving in the active, reserve, or guard force. The annual recipient of the award is selected based on military and judicial accomplishments, unquestionable integrity, and community service. The award was created in 2007 and was named after Major General Suter who served as Clerk of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1991 until his retirement in 2013. Major General Suter is widely recognized for his commitment to the judicial community and the Armed Forces. For more information regarding criteria and nomination format, see http://jaa.org/awards.
Judge Advocates Association Life Service Award
The Robinson O. Everett Distinguished Life Service Award honors individuals who have demonstrated a lifetime of dedicated service to the principles of military and veteran’s law and justice and devotion to the mission and objectives of the Association and its members. The award was first presented to Chief Judge Robinson O. Everett of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. The JAA then received permission from Judge Everett to name the award after him. For more information regarding criteria and nomination format, see http://jaa.org/awards.
Judge Advocates Association Lifetime Achievement Award
The Chief Justice John Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award is the Judge Advocate Foundation's highest award. The Foundation established the Award commemorating Chief Justice Marshall to honor an individual who once served as a judge advocate, left active duty military service, and subsequently made great contributions and achievements outside the military legal system. For more information regarding criteria and nomination format, see http://jaa.org/awards.
ABA Young Lawyers Division Outstanding Young Military Service Lawyer Award
This award, a joint effort of the American Bar Association Young Lawyer Division and Judge Advocate Association, recognizes the legal contributions of one young judge advocate from each uniformed service: the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard. Every judge advocate command is encouraged to nominate one young officer under the conditions herein (must be under 36 years old or first admitted to practice within the past 5 years). For more information regarding criteria and nomination format, see ABA Military Lawyer Service Award.
ABA Standing Committee on Armed Forces Law (SCAFL) Outstanding Military Service Career Judge Advocate Award
This award recognizes the contributions of one member from each service who has demonstrated excellence throughout their legal career, with an emphasis on the most recent three years. For more information regarding criteria and nomination format, see ABA SCAFL Award.
ABA Standing Committee on Armed Forces Law (SCAFL) Keithe E. Nelson Distinguished Writing Award
This award recognized the Judge Advocates, law specialists, active duty, reserve and national guard who author or co-author an outstanding literary publication first appearing in the preceding calendar year which advances interest and professionalism of lawyers in the Armed Forces or military law be recognized by certificate award approved by, and in accordance with, guidelines set by, the Standing Committee on Armed Forces Law. For more information regarding criteria and nomination format, see ABA SCAFL Writing Award.
ABA Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division Nelson Award
The Nelson Award was established as a tribute to the late L. Clair Nelson, who served as a Council member of the Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division. He contributed his loyalty, time and extraordinary talent to American Bar Association activities and held numerous leadership positions within the ABA. The Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the ABA by a government or public sector lawyer, and all government and public sector lawyers are eligible nominees. The Division will consider an individual's specific extraordinary accomplishments as well as sustained superior contributions to the ABA over a number of years. For more information regarding criteria and nomination format, see ABA Government Award.
ABA Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division Hodson Award
The Hodson Award named in honor of the distinguished public service career of the late Major General Kenneth J. Hodson, a former Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Army, and a founding member of the Division, recognizes sustained, outstanding performance or a specific and extraordinary service by a government or public sector law office (it is not an award for an individual). Eligible nominees include all government (including military) or public sector law offices (e.g., legal aid bureaus, public defender offices and other legal organizations funded by the Legal Services Corporation) at the federal, state and local levels. To be eligible, nominees must receive funding from a government entity. Departments or units within offices are also eligible. For more information regarding criteria and nomination format, see ABA Major General Hodson Award.
LAMP - Legal Assistance for Military Personnel - Individual & Group Award
The ABA standing committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel grants these awards for in recognition of a superior legal assistance program worthy of emulation; or a major legal assistance innovation; or the maintenance of quality legal assistance service through outstanding effort despite limited resources; or exceptional service to, or support of, the military legal assistance effort.
The individual awards are in recognition of a major legal assistance innovation, demonstrated superior effort exceeding the performance of routine duties dedicated to providing legal assistance service over a specified period, or rendering exceptional service or support to the military legal assistance effort. For more information regarding criteria and nomination format, see ABA LAMP Award.