8th Annual Justice Robert Benham Awards for Community Service

The State Bar of Georgia Spotlights Judges and Attorneys for Community Service

The Eighth Annual Justice Robert Benham Awards for Community Service were presented January 30 at The State Bar of Georgia during a special ceremony. Created in 1998 by the State Bar of Georgia, the award is named for Georgia Supreme Court Justice Robert Benham, who during his term as chief justice encouraged lawyers and judges in Georgia to become involved in serving their communities so that volunteerism remains strong among the members of the Georgia legal profession. The award recognizes lawyers and judges who have combined a professional career with outstanding service and dedication to their communities through voluntary participation in community organizations, government sponsored activities or humanitarian work.

The Community Service Award is given to attorneys in the judicial districts of Georgia from which nominations were received. This year's recipients were:

Michael L. Edwards, Savannah - Judicial District 1
Michael S. Bennett Sr., Valdosta - Judicial District 2
William Lee Robinson, Macon - Judicial District 3
Nisha Karnani, Dunwoody - Judicial District 4
Luis A. Aguilar, Atlanta - Judicial District 5
Douglas M. Towns, Atlanta - Judicial District 5
Judge Christopher C. Edwards, Fayetteville - Judicial District 6
Cindi L. Yeager, Marietta - Judicial District 7
Therese G. Franzén, Norcross - Judicial District 9
David B. Bell, Augusta - Judicial District 10

The Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest recognition given by the State Bar of Georgia's Justice Robert Benham Community Service Awards Selection Committee. It is reserved for a lawyer or judge who, in addition to meeting the criteria for receiving the Justice Robert Benham Award for Community Service, has demonstrated an extraordinarily long and distinguished commitment to volunteer participation in the community throughout his or her legal career. This year it was awarded to two outstanding community servants:

Miles J. Alexander, Atlanta
Willis A. DuVall, Edison

The awards were presented by former Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Benham and Court of Appeals Presiding Judge G. Alan Blackburn. The awardees were honored after the ceremony with a reception held at the Bar Center.