Judge Wilfred Feinberg (2nd Cir.) will receive the 22nd Annual Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award. The award honors an Article III judge whose career has been exemplary, as measured by the significant contributions to the administration of justice, the advancement of the rule of law, and the improvement of society as a whole.

Feinberg was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in 1961, and elevated to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in 1966. He served on the court for 38 years and was chief judge from 1980 to 1988. As an appellate judge, Feinberg authored many opinions that helped to define federal law, including U.S. v. Miller, which upheld the constitutionality of the draft-card burning law, and NLRB v. J.P. Stevens & Co, the famous labor union case that inspired the movie, Norma Rae. He served on the Judicial Conference from 1980 to 1988, chairing the Executive Committee from 1987 to 1988, and also serving as a member of the Long Range Planning Committee from 1991 to 1996.

Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist with Judge Julia Smith Gibbons (6th Cir.) and Judge Peter Messitte (D. Md.) selected this year's award recipient. In making the award the Chief Justice noted, "Judge Feinberg has been a true ornament to the federal Judiciary. His remarkable service over a period of more than 40 years embraces not only active service on the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, but major contributions to judicial administration. He richly deserves the Devitt Award."