The Michigan Judges Association (MJA) is accepting nominations for its Hilda Gage Judicial Excellence Award. The award is named in honor of the late Judge Hilda Gage who served on the Michigan Court of Appeals and Oakland County Circuit Court bench before passing away in 2010. She was renowned for her courage and scholarship. Gage was the first female president of MJA and the first female chairperson of the Judicial Tenure Commission.
In 2010, MJA created the Hilda Gage Award to recognize judicial excellence. Each year, the MJA recognizes a current or former judge who demonstrates:
• Competence in docket management and managing trials.
• Contributions to the profession.
• Contributions to legal scholarship.
• Contributions to the community.
The nominee must be a member in good standing of the MJA and must have served as a court of appeals or circuit court judge as some point in his/her career. Past recipients of the Hilda Gage Judicial Excellence Award are:
Judge Christopher Yates 2019
Judge Thomas Solka 2018
Judge James Alexander 2017
Judge Alton Tom Davis 2016
Judge Timothy Connors 2015
Judge Joan Young 2014
Judge Barry Howard 2013
Judge James Kingsley 2012
Judge James Ryan 2011
Judge J. Richardson Johnson 2010
The nominations are evaluated by a committee consisting of attorneys and both current and former judges. The nomination package should include:
• The nomination form.
• The nominee’s curriculum vitae.
• Any supporting letters or other information.
The nomination form is available on the MJA website at mijudge.org. The nominations must be received by Friday, June 25.
- Posted June 10, 2021
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MJA seeks nominations for the Hilda Gage Judicial Excellence Award

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