MARTY VAN OOT ended her term as NHBA president with recognition of four judges who have worked hard to implement cost- and life-saving alternatives in sentencing for nonviolent offenders. She presented a career professionalism award to an attorney renowned for integrity, civility and unflagging support of an independent judiciary, and a distinguished service award to an attorney (and district court judge) who has spent countless hours serving as a member of the disciplinary committee policing the profession.

After these celebrations of excellence in the profession, Van Oot handed over the gavel of the NHBA presidency to Concord attorney Russell Hilliard, who faces the challenge of leading the Bar as it responds to a bill (signed July 14 by Gov. Benson) that demands that the Bar adhere to stricter limits on lobbying than those already placed on it by court decisions. The bill also requires the Bar to hold a referendum on its unified status. Hilliard said the Bar’s services to members and the public would not be disrupted while the leadership grapples with this legislative challenge.

"Without a doubt, the unified Bar has been a tremendous benefit to the Bar and to the public over the last 30 years," said Hilliard. The severe lobbying restrictions and the requirement that the Bar conduct a referendum will lead the Bar "to take some action to challenge the constitutionality of this statute," he predicted.

A revised version of Hilliard’s remarks appears on page 4, and the text of HB 175 is published on the same page; see page 3 for scenes from the Annual Meeting.

ANNUAL MEETING AWARDS

William Grimes Judicial Professionalism Award: Hon. Robert Morrill, Hon. Kathleen McGuire, Hon. Carolann Conboy, and Hon. Patricia Coffey

Donald Dufresne Professionalism Award: Frederic K. Upton

President’s Award for Distinguished Service to the Profession: Robert W. Varney

Annual Meeting Sponsors & Exhibitors

Our thanks to the following businesses and organizations for their support at the 2003 NHBA Annual Meeting.

Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker

LexisNexis

LTC Solutions, Inc.

NHBA Insurance Agency, Inc.

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