Did you know the legal profession has its own version of the Academy Awards? The Academy gives out a Gold Oscar; we give out a Silver Gavel.
For the last 59 years, the Silver Gavel Awards, put on by the American Bar Association’s Division for Public Education, has been honoring a wide array of media and arts that educate the public about the American legal system. Each year, recipients go above and beyond informing the public about current practices, policies, and issues prevalent within our nation’s justice system.
The Silver Gavel Awards recognize winners in nine different categories that include TV programs, documentaries, books, radio, commentary, magazines, commentary, drama and literature, and other media on a wide array of subject matters associated with the legal profession. The winners are selected by the ABA Standing Committee on Silver Gavel Awards, made up of 21 people, including the Commission’s Diversity and Education Director – Michelle Silverthorn.
You may be familiar with one of this year’s recipients – Making A Murderer – a very buzzed about Netflix documentary, and very likely, a handful of the other winners as well.
This year’s Silver Gavel Awards Reception and Presentation will be held on July 12th at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.
The Reception will begin at 5:30pm that evening, and the presentation of the awards will directly follow, taking place from 6:00-7:30pm.
Hon. Roger J. Gregory, Chief Judge of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, will be the featured speaker at this year’s Silver Gavel Awards Presentation and all recipients will receive their Silver Gavels from current President of the American Bar Association, Paulette Brown.
Registration is still open for this free event, but space is limited, so don’t delay. I’d highly recommend it if you’re in the DC area.