Van Oot Succeeds Hutchins at NHBA Annual Meeting

NH SUPREME COURT Chief Justice David A. Brock, accepting the Justice William A. Grimes Award for Judicial Professionalism presented to all five members of the court at the 2002 NHBA Annual Meeting on June 21, praised the Bar for "its support in helping us move forward as an institution" during "an important juncture in the court’s history."

The Grimes Award was presented to the justices by outgoing NHBA President Peter E. Hutchins, who said he decided to honor the members of the court for attacking with vigor the backlog of cases they faced during the past two years, amidst the controversy of an impeachment trial and intense legislative activity on judicial reform issues.

Before a capacity crowd at the Harborside Sheraton in Portsmouth, Hutchins also turned over the Bar presidency to Marty Van Oot, of the Orr & Reno law firm.

In brief remarks, Van Oot said that when she first came to New Hampshire to practice 20 years ago, she was "impressed by the willingness of Bar members to give back to their communities, to the state and to their profession."

"This Bar cares deeply about making a difference," she said, adding that the debate in the last year over numerous legislative initiatives aimed at changing the structure of the Bar and the courts at times was frustrating because it "interfered with the ability of Bar members to do the right thing."

Van Oot said that during her year as Bar president, she hopes to focus on enhancing the responsiveness of the Bar to member needs. She noted that it was only recently that she became aware of the recognition the Bar receives outside the state for the excellence of its programming compared to other bar associations. "That is when I realized the mark that this Association has made outside the borders of New Hampshire – with its CLE programs, its publications, and, this year, for its courage and willingness to advocate for the independence of the judiciary – a position that has drawn both support and criticism from some Bar members."

But much of the night was focused not on the Association or the year to come, but on the tumultuous period just passed.

Accepting the Grimes award on behalf of the members of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Brock said, "We have remained focused on [our] responsibility to our citizens, even when we have been surrounded by controversy and tragedy. I am personally grate ful to my colleagues on the court, to the members of the Bar, and to all of our citizens who have helped us through some very difficult times."

Brock said the court had undergone a period of "change and renewed strength" in the past 18 months, and said those efforts had "been enhanced by our relationship with the Bar, which has allowed us to speak candidly and work cooperatively."

"Your input has helped us move forward as an institution. We want to thank you for that vital contribution to the administration of justice," said Brock.

Brock also read remarks from Justice John T. Broderick, Jr., who is recovering from injuries suffered in a brutal beating earlier this year. Broderick, who said he plans to return to the bench in September, thanked the Bar for the award, calling it " a very meaningful statement of the respect and esteem that the Bar has for the court." With characteristic humor, Broderick referred to his injuries, joking that "despite a request from one of my colleagues, I do not intend to have my jaw wired closed during oral argument."

At the Annual Meeting Banquet, Hutchins also presented the E. Donald Dufresne Award for Outstanding Professionalism to Dort S. Bigg, a former law partner and mentor, and the Distinguished Service to the Legal Profession award to Bruce W. Felmly, a former Bar president and current chair of the Committee on Cooperation with the Courts, who has been active in many Bar projects and served in many leadership roles.

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