Why Do We Make Such a Big Deal about Awards?

By the Communications Committee

The practice of law is many things – challenging, intellectually stimulating, problem solving, creative (and fun). At its best, the practice of law is built upon the shoulders, and with the help, of those who have gone before us, as well as our peers.

Giving Bar Association awards is a way to celebrate all of us who work to further justice and the rule of law by singling out a few to represent the best of us.

Administrative law and its practitioners serve the high purpose of protecting the ability of government to effectively function while protecting the constitutional rights of those entitled to due process and equal protection of law. Administrative law, well practiced, is vital to the rule of law and administration of justice.

In 2017, the Administrative Law Section Council established the Administrative Law Section Award for Excellence. The award honors an outstanding attorney as an exemplar of excellence, dedication, and passion for administrative and/or regulatory law. Criteria for the award include:

  • At least 10 years of administrative law practice
  • Membership in both the NCBA and the Administrative Law Section
  • An exemplary record and reputation in the legal community, and having followed the highest ethical standards
  • An exemplary record of active participation in efforts to improve the administrative and regulatory process for regulators, the regulated public, the citizens of North Carolina and in the interests of justice.

Attorneys who met and exceeded those criteria and were given the award, are:

Senior Administrative Law Judge Fred Morrison,

M. Jackson Nichols,

Nick Fountain,

Daniel F. McLawhorn, and

Garth Dunklin.

Rather than just announce the 2022 award recipients, we are going to tell you why they were nominated, and how they responded to receipt of the award. Posts in this series will provide you with extracts from both the nominations for, and acceptance remarks from, the recipients of:

The 2022 Administrative Law Section Award for Excellence, and

A new award, The Lifetime Award for Excellence in the Administration of Law and Justice and Administrative Law.

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