Maryland Judge William D. Missouri will be honored posthumously this summer by the American Bar Association’s Judicial Division with a new civility award in his name.
JUDICIAL DIVISION
ABA announces Honorable William D. Missouri Civility Award
The first Honorable William D. Missouri Civility Award will be presented to the judge’s widow, Delores Missouri, at the ABA Annual Meeting on Aug. 9 in San Francisco. In subsequent years, it will be presented annually to a lawyer or judge who exhibits exceptional qualities of civility, courtesy and professionalism toward colleagues, litigants and the public. It may also be presented to a person or organization that promotes civility in the legal profession.
“There seems to be a deterioration of civility in the country these days, so we decided to honor the men and women who set an example of civility for others,” said Judge Toni E. Clarke, chair of the Judicial Division. “Judge Missouri was the epitome of civility and professionalism – in the courtroom and in his day-to-day dealings with colleagues, friends and the public.”
Missouri spent 25 years as a Maryland state judge, from 1988 until his retirement in 2010, when he was chief judge of Maryland’s 7th Judicial Circuit. He was past chair of the ABA Judicial Division and past chair of the National Conference of State Trial Judges. He died in November 2017.
The award will be presented at the Judicial Division awards luncheon Aug. 9 at the Hilton San Francisco Hotel Union Square. For more information, visit the website here.
Related links:
- ABA President Bob Carlson: Promoting civility and protecting justice
- ABA Journal: Can lawyers learn to be nicer to one another?
- ABA Journal: Bring back balance and civility to work
- Obituary for retired Judge William D. Missouri
- ABA Judicial Division awards