The New Hampshire Women’s Bar Association, founded to promote and support the advancement and interests of women in the legal community, is accepting nominations for the 2005 Marilla M. Ricker Achievement Award. The award will be presented at the organization’s annual event held in the fall.

The award is named for the woman who petitioned the New Hampshire Supreme Court for the right for women to practice law in New Hampshire.  In 1890, with all justices concurring, Marilla Ricker won that right.  In 1907, Marilla Ricker stated, “I think we should all work for equal suffrage…. I want New Hampshire to be the banner state of the east on the equal suffrage question.”

The Marilla Ricker Award honors outstanding women lawyers in New Hampshire who have achieved professional excellence, paved the way to success for other women lawyers, advanced opportunities for women in the profession or performed exemplary public service on behalf of women.  Last year’s recipient was Ann McLane Kuster.  Other former recipients include:Hon. Jean K. Burling and Emily G. Rice (2003); Linda S. Johnson and the late Deborah J. Cooper (2002); Cathy J. Green and Mary S. Leahy (2001); and Hon. Susan B. Carbon and Martha Van Oot (2000).

The nomination form can be obtained at www.nhwba.org or you can contact Maureen Raiche Manning, chair of the Nomination Committee at Nixon, Raiche, Manning, Vogelman & Leach (669-7070).  The deadline for nominations is August 31, 2005.