Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara Pariente, Co-Chair of the Judicial Independence Committee of the National Association of Women Judges, was presented with the Sandra Day O’Connor Jurist Award by the American College of Trial Lawyers at the 2018 Spring Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona by ACTL President Samuel Franklin and ACTL Fellow Eugene Pettis.
As co-chair of the NAWJ Judicial Independence Committee, Justice Pariente has been a critical part of the leadership of the Informed Voters, Fair Judges Project. The goal of the Informed Voters, Fair Judges Project is to strengthen public understanding of the unique role of the judicial branch and the importance of a fair, impartial, and independent judiciary in upholding the rule of law; to heighten awareness of attempts to weaken the power of the judicial branch; and to build skills in evaluating and responding to unfair attacks on the judiciary including political and other external pressures.
“You have dedicated your lives as trial lawyers to advocating with excellence and distinction for your clients and your causes. Think of your client as the justice system – the third branch of government – come to our defense. Use your best skills as advocates and your resources in defense of our judiciary. What is at stake is the very foundation of our democracy.” -Justice Barbara Pariente
Key Messages of the Informed Voters, Fair Judges Project:
➢ Our courts should be celebrated as the one branch apart from politics.
➢ Judges should be evaluated based on their character and integrity.
➢ The courts must be protected from those who would politicize them.
➢ The public must be educated about special interest efforts to politicize the courts.
About the Sandra Day O’Connor Jurist Award
The Sandra Day O’Connor Jurist Award, presented by the American College of Trial Lawyers and named for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor (ret.), is given from time to time to a judge in the United States or Canada, who has demonstrated exemplary judicial independence in the performance of his or her duties, sometimes in especially difficult circumstances. This distinguished national recognition has been awarded only on two previous occasions since its establishment in 2007. Justice Pariente is now the third recipient of this prestigious award.
More Information
IVP ACTL Sandra Day O’Connor Jurist Award Article