NH SUPERIOR COURT Judge James J. Barry, Jr. was honored as the winner of this year's Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Manchester Bar Association and Nashua attorney Joseph F. Gall, Jr. was recognized as the first recipient of the Nashua Bar Association's Ted Jordan Humanitarian Award at the Manchester Bar's meeting last month. The Nashua Bar joined the meeting to present the Ted Jordan Award.

Barry, a graduate of St. Anselm College and Suffolk University Law School, was admitted to the NH Bar in 1968. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps, including sitting as a military judge in 1971. From 1972 to 1974, he worked as a prosecutor for the city of Manchester and from 1974 to 1976 was legal counsel to then-Governor Meldrim Thomson, Jr. He has served on the board of directors of New Hampshire Legal Assistance and as secretary of the NH Bar Association.

Barry was presiding justice of Pittsfield District Court from 1986 to 1988, when he was appointed associate justice of the NH Superior Court. His brother, Thomas T. Barry, also sits on the bench, as special justice of Hillsborough District Court.

Superior Court Chief Justice Walter L. Murphy and Manchester attorney David L. Nixon spoke about their friend and colleague Judge Barry in recognizing him as the Lifetime Achievement Award winner. The award was presented by Manchester Bar President Philip Taub.

Judge Murphy said it was "difficult to put into words the extent of the contribution Jim Barry has made to the practice of law, to the bench and Bar and to his community."

"He has served the Superior Court with great distinction over the years" as associate justice of Hillsborough-North and on a number of court committees, Murphy said. "I can always count on his leadership, wise counsel and good judgment....He is a true 'lawyer's judge' - he has not forgotten what it is to practice law and to represent real people."

Dave Nixon said that Barry is "a Marine first, last and always," and lives by the Marine Corps motto "semper fidelis," meaning "always faithful."

"In my humble opinion, nobody has been more faithful to the county, the state, his family, friends, the court system and the legal system," said Nixon.

Barry said he was "honored and humbled" to follow in the footsteps of previous Manchester Bar Lifetime Achievement Award winners Arthur Bean and Jack Middleton. He said he finds himself "extremely fortunate" to work with his fellow judges and the staff of Hillsborough County Superior Court - North. Barry recently lost his wife and father, but said he is still thankful for what he has. "Despite the tragedies that have befallen my family, I am blessed with a wonderful life, family, occupation and vocation," he said.

The Ted Jordan Humanitarian Award was created by the Nashua Bar Association to memorialize the late Nashua attorney, a partner of Jordan, Maynard & Parodi who died last year of cancer. Nashua Bar President Peter Goldsmith described Jordan's "zeal for life" and said he "lived much and touched many."

"This award is presented to someone who demonstrates the congeniality, civility and camaraderie that Ted epitomized," said Goldsmith in introducing the winner of the first annual award, Joseph F. Gall, Jr. Gall, a partner of Jordan's, graduated from Suffolk University Law School and was admitted to the NH Bar in 1976. He practiced law with Jordan throughout his entire career. He was president of the Nashua Bar Association in 1995 and has been active in the community, including serving as director and past president of several area educational organizations, including the Nashua Children's Association and the Adult Learning Center.

Goldsmith said Gall shares some of Jordan's most admirable traits. "He, like Ted, has that rare ability to bring people together - whether it's to settle a case, help out the local Catholic school or go on an adventure. He takes younger attorneys aside and explains to them that there will be many cases, many clients, but what they will remember and cherish most are those rare, special days with friends and family - days he calls 'bright line days.'"

In accepting the award, Gall kept the focus on his longtime law partner for whom the award was named. "For those of us who knew Ted, it was our privilege to spend time with him. He put the human in humanity, the person in personality," he said.

Home | About the Bar | For Members | For the Public | Legal Links | Publications | Online Store
Lawyer Referral Service | Law-Related Education | NHBA•CLE | NHBA Insurance Agency | NHMCLE
Search | Calendar

New Hampshire Bar Association
2 Pillsbury Street, Suite 300, Concord NH 03301
phone: (603) 224-6942 fax: (603) 224-2910
email: NHBAinfo@nhbar.org
© NH Bar Association Disclaimer