| Bar Bulletin |
December,
2003 |
| MSBA News |
|
Maryland Judge Wins ABA Award
~Sonner Honored with Criminal Justice Section Award~
By Janet Stidman Eveleth
 |
Maryland Court of Special Appeals Judge Andrew Sonner was recently honored
with the prestigious Charles English Award, presented by the Criminal
Justice Section of the American Bar Association (ABA). The Section created
this award in 2000 to recognize lawyers and judges “who enhance the
relationship between prosecutors and defense lawyers by setting an example
that subordinates parochial defense bar and prosecution views in favor of
achieving results that promote fairness and justice.” |
| The Honorable Andrew Sonner |
The ABA Criminal Justice Section presented this high honor to Sonner on
November 14 during a reception at the Wyndham City Center Hotel in
Washington, DC. Sonner, who has served on Maryland’s bench since 1996,
received this esteemed award for “engaging in activities that increase the
stature and professionalism of lawyers and his exceptional service to the
section.”
The award is named in honor of the late Charles English, a prominent
lawyer from Santa Monica, California, who represented many high-profile
Hollywood entertainment clients in criminal matters. English, who chaired
the section’s Criminal Justice Standards Committee in 1997-1998, dedicated
his talent, time and personal resources to improving the justice system.
“I knew Charles English and I am very proud to have an award that carries
his name,” states Sonner. “He was an outstanding defense attorney who
looked out for his clients and really cared about them. Charles would
contact them once a week and help them with their deeper problems.”
“It has been my pleasure to have a long-time professional relationship
with Andrew Sonner, as a prosecutor and now as a judicial colleague,”
states the Honorable Irma Raker, Court of Appeals of Maryland, who chairs
the ABA Criminal Justice Section’s Criminal Justice Standards Committee.
“He was a good friend of Charlie English and I was privileged to work with
both of them as they worked to revise the ABA Standards for Criminal
Justice, which set the benchmark for fair and balanced practices in
criminal justice. Andy epitomizes the qualities this award was created to
recognize.”
The ABA Criminal Justice Section takes primary responsibility for the
ABA’s work on solutions to issues involving crime, criminal law and the
administration of criminal and juvenile justice. It plays an active
leadership role in bringing the views of the ABA to the attention of
federal and state courts, Congress and other federal and state judicial,
legislative and executive policy-making bodies. It also serves as a
resource to its members on issues in the forefront of change in the
criminal justice arena.
