Judge Charles Breyer to Receive 2018 Devitt Award
Judge Charles R. Breyer
Judge Charles R. Breyer of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California is the recipient of the 2018 Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award. Breyer will formally receive the award on Nov. 7 at the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Devitt Award honors an Article III judge who has achieved a distinguished career and made significant contributions to the administration of justice, the advancement of the rule of law, and the improvement of society as a whole. Recipients are chosen by a committee of federal judges, which this year was chaired by U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy.
In a statement, Justice Kennedy said, “The committee noted that in addition to his nationwide reputation as being a skilled and fine trial judge, he has contributed to the judiciary in many ways including being on the panel for multi-district litigation and on the United States Sentencing Commission. Most important of all is the great respect that Judge Breyer enjoys among his own colleagues, members of the bar and the community at large. He honors us all by his continued commitment to the rule of law and the Constitution that it sustains.”
Judge Breyer, who is the brother of U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen G. Breyer, was appointed to the federal bench in 1997. He said “I am honored to accept the Devitt Award. Even more so, I feel very privileged to have worked with so many selfless and dedicated colleagues over the past two decades. Their work in promoting the rule of law is the true award.”
The Devitt Award is named for the late Edward J. Devitt, longtime chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. The award was established in 1982.
Read the news release from the Northern District of California for more information about Judge Breyer's distinguished career.