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Two Federal Appellate Judges Win Distinguished Service Award
June 01, 2010
Chief Judge Anthony J. Scirica of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and Judge Ann Claire Williams of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit are joint recipients of the 28th annual Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award.
Their selection by a three-member panel was announced recently by the American Judicature Society. The panel was chaired by Associate Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and also included Judge Robert A. Katzmann of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and Senior Judge W. Royal Furgeson Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
Justice Sotomayor praised both judges, saying they “have worked tirelessly through their extracurricular service to improve the justice system and the communities in which they serve.” She said both “provide outstanding examples of the qualities sought in Devitt Award recipients.”
Chief Judge Scirica, appointed as a district judge in 1984 and elevated to the appellate court in 1987, was cited for, among other things, “his dedicated service to the U.S. Judicial Conference, and his exemplary opinions and prolific public service activities.”
Judge Williams, appointed as a district judge in 1985 and elevated to the appellate court in 1999, was cited for her “service on a wide variety of Judicial Conference committees and her extensive efforts to provide and improve legal education.”
The Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award is named for late longtime chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. The award honors Article III judges whose careers have been exemplary, measured by their significant contributions to the administration of justice, advancement of the rule of law, and the improvement of society as a whole. It is administered by the American Judicature Society.