The Military & Veterans Law (MVL) Section is proud to recognize professor John W. Brooker as the 2021 recipient of the Kirk Warner Award for Distinguished Service to Military and Veterans. This award recognizes an individual who has provided not only outstanding service to military members and/or veterans, but who also encourages others to do the same.

Brooker’s selfless devotion to military members and veterans was seamlessly borne out of his own selfless service to this nation. Brooker is a 20-year Army veteran who currently serves as the director of the Military and Veterans Law Clinic at the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Law. He also teaches a variety of courses in the national security law field. Brooker is a 2003 graduate of UNC School of Law.

When asked what this award means to him, Brooker stated, “I will treasure this award for two reasons. First, it recognizes the often thankless, difficult work that UNC Law students put forth every day on behalf of their clients. Second, it links our clinic with Kirk Warner, a man who has done more for the military and veterans community in North Carolina than anyone else.”

The award was presented to Brooker by Patrick Wilson, president of the MVL Section. “This year’s MVL award recognizes an outstanding veteran in his own right and is awarded to show appreciation to Prof. Brooker and his clinic students for their outstanding advocacy on behalf of North Carolina veterans. We all owe a heartfelt thank you to Prof. Brooker and his team,” commented Wilson.

The Kirk Warner Award for Distinguished Service to the Military and Veterans was established by the MVL Section to recognize an individual who has provided not only outstanding service to military members and/or veterans but who also promotes the same in others by their devotion to selfless assistance to those who are serving or who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States. The award is named for and in recognition of the work and commitment of Colonel Kirk Warner who has both a long and continuing history of service to the military and to veterans and who has been the driving force in establishing the creation of the MVL Section of the North Carolina Bar Association to promote meaningful support and aid to active duty and retired military personnel.

The recipient of this annual award shall be selected from among nominated members of the Military and Veterans Law Section who meet the following criteria:

The attorney must be a resident of the state of North Carolina and be nominated by a member in good standing of the North Carolina Bar Association.
The attorney must be a current member of the NCBA and its Military and Veterans Law Section.
The attorney must have at least five years of continuous practice of Military and/or Veterans Law.
The attorney must have an outstanding record and reputation in the legal community, and must follow the highest ethical standards.
The attorney must have exhibited unselfish commitment to the advancement of the rights of military members and veterans and to the creation of a positive public image for the Armed Forces and veterans who have served.
The attorney must have an exemplary record of active participation in efforts to support, provide service to, and improve the lives of active duty and/or retired military personnel. This could include pro bono representation in military or Veterans law or community service involving veterans or military service members.

March 4, 2022/by MilitaryandVeterans