Bar Foundation Awards

The Kenison  Award was established by the Bar Foundation to recognize an individual (or individuals) who makes substantial contributions to the betterment of New Hampshire citizens through the administration of justice, the legal profession, or the advancement of legal thought. The award is made annually, selected by vote of the Board of Directors of the New Hampshire Bar Foundation. Recipients need not be members of the New Hampshire Bar Association, but are carefully chosen to honor individuals who meet the criteria for the award in its broadest sense. Frank Rowe Kenison (1907-1980) was a member of the New Hampshire Bar Association for 48 years, and served as Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court from 1952 to 1977. He was an exquisite legal thinker who committed his life to the legal system, education about the law, and the promise of equal justice for all. Recipients are listed below with their firm affiliation at the time of the award.

Frank Rowe Kenison Award Recipients

2021	Steven B. Scudder
2020	Hon. Norman H. Stahl, US Court of Appeals for First Circuit Court
2019	Hon. Jeffrey R. Howard, US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
2018	Hon. Joseph P. Nadeau, retired
2017	Professor John Garvey, UNH School of Law
2016	Hon. Paul Barbadoro, US District Court
2015	Chief Justice Linda Stewart Dalianis, NH Supreme Court
2014	Hon. Kenneth R. McHugh, NH Superior Court (retired)
2014	Amy Beth Messer, Disabilities Rights Center
2013	Claire Ebel, NH Civil Liberities Union (retired)
2012	David L. Nixon, Nixon, Vogelman, Barry, Slawsky & Simoneau P.A. (deceased)
2011	Dean John T. Broderick, Jr., UNH School of Law
2010	Howard J. Zibel, NH Supreme Court
2009	Jacalyn A. Colburn, NH Public Defender Richard Guerriero, NH Public Defender
2008	Hon. Francis J. Frasier, Hampton District Court
2007	Frederic K. Upton, Upton & Hatfield, LLP (deceased)
2006	Elliott Berry, NH Legal Assistance
2005	Nina C. Gardner, NH Judicial Council
2004	Jack B. Middleton, McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton
2003	Ronald K. Lospennato, Disabilities Rights Center
2002	Hon. James E. Duggan, NH Supreme Court
2001	Marcia Sink, Court Appointed Special Advocates
2000	Hon. Susan B. Carbon, Family Courts
1999	John E. Tobin, NH Legal Assistance
1998	Hon. Edwin W. Kelly, District Courts

The Robert E. Kirby Award was established in 1996 to honor the memory of Bob Kirby, a young lawyer “of great skill, civility and good humor” who died that year at the age of 35. Kirby was an attorney with the Concord law firm of Gallagher, Callahan & Gartrell. The purpose of the award is to honor Bob’s memory and to remind all of us that decency, courtesy and perspective neither inhibits nor defeats excellent advocacy. The Kirby Award recipient is an attorney 35 years old or younger who demonstrates the traits of civility, courtesy, perspective and excellent advocacy. Recipients are listed below with their firm affiliation at the time of the award.

Robert E. Kirby Award Recipients

2021	Megan C. Carrier, Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green Henry R. Klementowicz, American Civil Liberties Union of NH
2020	Caroline K. Leonard, Gallagher Callahan & Gartrell PC
2019	Sandra L. Cabrera, Waystack Frizzell
2018	Nicholas E. Abramsom,   Abramsom, Brown & Dugan
2017	Rory Parnell, Parnell Michels & McKay PLLC
2016	Anthony Galdieri, Nixon Peabody
2015	Jonathan Eck, Devine Millimet
2014	Julian B. Jefferson, NH Public Defender
2013	Daniel J. Feltes, NH Legal Assistance
2012	Michael S. Lewis, NH Attorney General’s Office
2011	Holly B. Haines, Abramson Brown & Dugan
2010	Sarah E. Mattson, New Hampshire Legal Assistance
2009	Jaye L. Rancourt, Brennan, Caron, Lenehan, & Iacopino
2008	Charles J. Keefe, Wilson, Bush, Durkin & Keefe
2007	Joceline D. Champagne, NH Pro Bono Referral Program
2006	Mary Ann Dempsey, Wiggin & Nourie
2005	Mary E. Tenn, Tenn And Tenn
2004	Kelly Ayotte, Attorney General
2003	Jennifer Parent, McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton
2002	John T. Pendleton, Gottesman & Hollis
2001	Joseph N. Laplante, U.S. Attorney’s Office
1999	James J. Tenn, Jr., Tenn And Tenn
1998	Diane Murphy Quinlan, Diocese of Manchester, NH
1997	Mark E. Howard, U.S. Attorney’s Office
1996	John P. Kacavas, Kacavas and Ramsdell