The University of New Mexico School of Law will present the 12th Distinguished Achievement Awards Dinner today, Oct. 28 in the UNM Student Union Building Ballroom. This year's honorees are Richard Gerding, Tommy Jewell and Ruth Kovnat. The event will open with a reception at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m.
Gerding graduated from the UNM School of Law in 1964. His legal career has focused on litigation and hospital-related issues since he began private practice in 1965. He serves on the state Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism and in 2003 received the State Bar of New Mexico's Professionalism Award.
Jewell graduated from the UNM School of Law in 1979. He has served as a trial judge for 21 years, first in the Bernaliilo County Metropolitan Court and then in the Second Judicial District's Children's Court until his retirement on Sept. 30. He currently serves on the State Justice Institute Board of Directors, to which he was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1995.
Kovnat became the first female law professor at Temple University School of Law and one of the first in the nation in 1971. Four years later, she joined the faculty at the UNM School of Law, where she concentrated her scholarship on environmental law, constitutional law and federal jurisdiction. She served as associate dean for academic affairs from 1991-1994 and became an emerita professor in 1999.
For tickets and information call Carmen Rawls at 277-8184. This event is sponsored by Keleher & McLeod, PA and Modrall Sperling Roehl Harris & Sisk, PA.
Contact: Laurie Mellas, (505) 277-5915, e-mail: lmellas@unm.edu
Posted by scarr at October 28, 2005 11:30 AM