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| Bar Bulletin |
March,
2003 |
| MSBA News |
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Maryland's Chief
Judge Wins Top Award
By Janet
Stidman Eveleth
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The Honorable
Robert M. Bell, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals of Maryland, will
be honored with the American Bar Association’s 2003 D’Alemberte/Raven
Award on March 21, 2003. This esteemed award, presented by the ABA’s
Section on Dispute Resolution, recognizes outstanding service in the
field of conflict resolution. Bell, the first chief judge to receive
this high acclaim, joins such notable past honorees as U.S. Attorney
General Janet Reno and Harvard Professor Roger Fisher. |
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Hon.
Robert M. Bell |
Maryland’s
Chief Judge is receiving this award for the commitment, support and
leadership he has demonstrated in the area of Dispute Resolution (DR). He
has advanced DR throughout the state of Maryland, expanding its use in the
courts and the broader community. Bell
also launched a massive public education campaign to accompany this
expansion, building the public’s awareness of the benefits realized by
using dispute resolution.
In 1998, the Chief
Judge formed a special ADR Study Commission and remained very involved in
its work. This body developed an action plan which led to the creation of
MACRO (Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office), a statewide mediation
office to facilitate the advancement of DR in Maryland courts, schools,
neighborhoods, government agencies, criminal and juvenile justice programs
and the business community.
“It is with great
pride that I will accept the D’Alemberte/Raven Award in recognition of the
leadership and innovation that have become hallmarks of Maryland’s ADR
initiative,” proclaims Chief Judge Bell. “While it will bear my name, it
really belongs to, and represents, the contributions of the many persons
who have worked so diligently and for so long to enhance and promote ADR
in Maryland. Notable in that number is MACRO Executive Director Rachel
Wohl.”
The ABA Section on
Dispute Resolution will present this award to Chief Judge Bell during its
Spring Conference in San Antonio, Texas, on March 21. This Section fosters
creative leadership in the field of DR, develops educational programs and
produces publications geared to DR services. The award is named for ABA
Presidents Talbot S. D’Alemberte and Robert D. Raven.
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