Utah State Bar Presents Awards At 2004 Annual Convention
The Annual Awards of the Utah State Bar were presented at the Bar's 74th Annual Convention by the Board of Bar Commissioners, on behalf of the entire Bar membership. Recipients are selected on the basis of achievement; professional service to clients, the public, courts and the Bar; and exemplification of the highest standards of professionalism to which all judges and lawyers aspire.
Judge of the Year - Hon. William B. Bohling
Judge Bohling was appointed to the Third District Court by Gov. Michael O. Leavitt. He received his JD degree from the University of Utah and an LLM degree from the University of Michigan School of Law. While in practice he chaired the Bar's Litigation Section and Courts and Judges Committee. In 1993 He was named the Bar's Distinguished Lawyer of the Year. Judge Bohling served as a member of the Judicial Conduct Commission from 2000 to 2002, and has served as the chair of the Judicial Council's Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee from 1994 to the present. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Alliance House and serves as the judge of the Salt Lake County Mental Health Court.
Distinguished Lawyer of the Year - George B. Handy
Upon graduation from law school at the University of Utah, George B. Handy began a general practice of law in Ogden where he continues today after 55 years. Now at 83 years old, he arrives at the office early each morning, maintaining an active practice. He attends court and is in trial regularly. Mr. Handy was the chief prosecutor for the Weber Country Attorney's Office from 1967 to 1969. He served on the Utah Board of Corrections as Vice-Chairman from 1957 to 1973. Mr. Handy taught business law at Weber State University for a number of years. He was the President of the Weber County Bar Association in 1981. Throughout his career, Mr. Handy has practiced in virtually every area of the law and has mentored countless numbers of lawyers, many of whom are now judges, and he has done countless hours of pro bono work.
Distinguished Committee of the Year - Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee
The Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL) Committee, chaired by Victoria K. Kidman, assists the Bar in protecting the interest of the public by ensuring that legal services are provided only by licensed legal professionals. The UPL Committee is comprised of 11 lawyers and 4 legal assistants committed to the elimination of unauthorized practice of law in Utah. This committee conducts the initial investigation of complaints regarding those thought to be engaging in the unauthorized practice of law. In the last three years the committee has investigated over 165 alleged unauthorized practice of law violations. Generally, those victimized by the unauthorized practice of law are immigrants, the elderly, and the impoverished.
Distinguished Section of the Year - Young Lawyers Division
Under the leadership of President Christian W. Clinger, the 2,000 member Young Lawyers Division is one of the largest most active sections of the Bar. Some of the Young Lawyers Division's highlights this past year included raising over $30,000.00 for "and Justice for all" which funds community legal service programs throughout Utah; serving nearly 1,500 people through Tuesday Night Bar; hosting "Jackie Robinson Appreciation Weekend", May 14-15 2004 in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education; holding a clothing drive to provide low income individuals with professional clothing for interviews and employment; and landscaping the South Valley Children's Justice Center.