AWARDS

It's that time of year again when the country holds its breath in anticipation of the announcement of two sets of awards: The Academy Awards and the Miami Chapter of the FACDL's awards. See below for details.  (ed. Note. As detailed below the award ceremony is open only to DUES paying members of FACDL. As such we regretfully cannot receive any award nor vote. We are allergic to paying dues. And if nominated we will not accept. If awarded, we shall not appear. )

Dear members,

This serves as a call for nominations for the FACDL-Miami Awards which are presented each year at our annual banquet.  This year's 54^th Annual Awards and Installation Gala will take place on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at the JW Marriot Marquis in Downtown Miami.  Once again, we will gather to celebrate and honor attorneys and judges whose character and work merits recognition from our criminal defense organization. 

Below are brief descriptions of the criteria for each of the FACDL-Miami awards.  If you know a lawyer(s) or judge deserving of one of these honorable distinctions, please forward me your nomination no later than Tuesday,  February 14, 2017.  Please include a statement why you think such person or group is deserving of the Award and other material you would like the Board to consider.  

RUMPOLE SAYS: Leave your nominations in the comments section and sign your name and we will forward them to the FACDL big-wigs.

THE HONORABLE GERALD KOGAN JUDICIAL DISTINCTION AWARD – This award is presented to a Judge in recognition of an extraordinary career contribution and dedicated service to the improvement of the criminal justice system and for the preservation of constitutional rights.

THE DANIEL S. PEARSON-HARRY W. PREBISH FOUNDERS AWARD – This award is given, when appropriate, in recognition of a lifetime commitment to preserve the constitutional rights of all citizens and for manifesting the very best principles for which FACDL-Miami stands -- an open-hearted devotion to justice, civility, discretion, courage, respect for human dignity and mercy.

THE RODNEY THAXTON “AGAINST ALL ODDS” AWARD – This award is given, when appropriate, to a criminal defense lawyer, who having undertaken a particularly difficult or unpopular client or cause, represents the heart and spirit of criminal defense, and who epitomizes the courage of the criminal defense lawyer to stand apart (and often alone) as Liberty’s Last Champion.

  

THE GREGG WENZEL YOUNG LAWYER’S AWARD - This award is given to a young lawyer who exemplifies hard work in the legal arena and in service to the community.

There will be a vote at our February Board Meeting on the 15^th of the month to decide who will be selected for the awards. The meeting is open to the general membership and any member can nominate someone they think is worthy, speak on behalf of their nominee and vote. This is not a closed meeting (no FACDL-Miami meeting is a closed meeting). The meeting will be held at the Federal Public Defenders office in the 15^th floor conference room in the Bank of America Building. The address is 150 West Flagler.

  

Brian Kirlew, Esq.