The New Hampshire Bar Foundation annual dinner, held at the CR Sparks Event Center in Bedford on May 26, honored award winners Mary E. Tenn of Tenn And Tenn in Manchester and Nina C. Gardner, executive director of the NH Judicial Council. With more than 200 in attendance, it was one of the best-attended Foundation Annual Dinners ever.

Tenn received the Robert E. Kirby Award (presented to an attorney under the age of 35) in recognition of her "civility and professionalism" and her unfailing good will toward both fellow advocates and opponents. Gardner received the Frank Rowe Kenison Award for her exemplary contribution to the strengthening of the justice system in New Hampshire.

Mary Tenn, center, is pictured with her parents, Dr. james Tenn and Sylvia Tenn.  Members of her family at the dinner included (back row left to right), brother John J. Tenn and his wife Grace; James J. Tenn, Jr., and Annmarie A. Tenn.  Mary's two brothers and sister are all members of the New Hampshire Bar Association.

David G. Snyder, director of the New Hampshire Bar Foundation, welcomed the dinner guests and introduced Paul W. Chant, chairman of the board, who saluted the Foundation’s IOLTA (Interest on Lawyer’s Trust Accounts) leadership banks for their assistance and their generosity. (See list). Chant thanked Bar members who have contributed so freely of their time and talents: John Funk, Emily Rice, and Richard Uchida—and the members of the out-going Foundation board, John Hutson, Marty Van Oot and Gretchen Witt, as well as NHBA Executive Director Jeannine McCoy.

A video presentation designed by NHBF Director of Development Angela S.Yanski spotlighted organizations supported by the Campaign for Legal Services. It touchingly depicted the work of each organization, citing specific cases and their solutions and emphasized the importance of donor support. Without the funding provided by the Campaign, many such services would be severely limited.

Michael F. Sullivan, Concord District Court Judge—and a member of the Kirby award committee— and Attorney General Kelly Ayotte, last year’s Kirby winner, introduced Mary Tenn. Judge Sullivan praised Tenn on behalf of the judges before whom she has appeared. Ayotte spoke of Tenn’s outstanding contribution to New Hampshire’s tradition of collegiality. Tenn then talked feelingly and humorously about a profession which is really much more than a "paper chase," she said, describing the practice of law as a calling marked by "humanity and good deeds." Tenn practices with her two brothers in a family firm and she mentioned the strong sense of camaraderie and courtesy which exists not only in their office, but, she believes, throughout the Association.

Mary Tenn, right, accepts the crystal bowl presented to the 2005 recipient of the Robert E. Kirby Award, from last year’s honoree, NH Attorney General Kelly Ayotte and, center, NH District Court Judge Michael Sullivan, a member of the Kirby award selection panel.

Supreme Court Associate Justice James E. Duggan presented Nina Gardner, executive director of the NH Judicial Council, with the Kenison Award, calling her the "quarterback and guardian angel of equal justice." Gardner said that her work on behalf of indigent criminal defense and other issues has led legislators, when they see her coming, to say, "Right—[remember] the Constitution." She cited as partners in her work the members of the Judicial Council, as well as NH Public Defender Chris Keating and the state’s 91 public defenders—as well as NH Legal Assistance (NHLA) and LARC (the Legal Advice and Referral Center) and the volunteers and staff of the NHBA Pro Bono Referral System. She mentioned encouraging legislative action, including a bill to provide additional funding for NHLA’s work. Thanks to a state appropriation obtained in recent years, the newly reopened NHLA office in the North Country has helped return $1.4 million to the area’s residents through successful appeals of federal benefits determinations and recovered child support payments. Gardner concluded by thanking the state’s judges for making the state "a place where every person is respected and honored."

Kenison Award-winner Nina Gardner accepts wooden writing desk from Associate Supreme Court Justice James E. Duggan, a member of the NH Bar Foundation board and former Appellate Defender for the NH Public Defender.

Dean John D. Hutson, Franklin Pierce Law School, introduced Geoffrey B. Shields, the dean and president of Vermont Law School and keynote speaker for the evening. Shields shared his vision of enlarging the role of the "lawyer as public citizen," and pointed out how his law school has supported legal services to the poor and encouraged students to consider using their training to influence policy as well as help individuals.

Geoffrey Shields, dean of Vermont Law School, told attendees at the New Hampshire Bar Foundation Annual Dinner that many law schools have taken a too narrow view of the role of lawyers in society, overlooking the importance of lawyers’ participation in public life.

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