NCBJ Public Outreach Award

Overview:
Established in 2018, the NCBJ Public Outreach Award recognizes individual bankruptcy judges and bankruptcy courts for outstanding public outreach efforts and achievements. The award honors judges who go above and beyond in engaging with their communities through education, pro bono services, and civic engagement.

Award Details:

• Type: Recognition award with potential recipient(s) annually
• Award Amount: Not specified
• Number of Recipients: Variable (1 or more annually)

Eligibility:

• Applicants: NCBJ members (bankruptcy judges and bankruptcy courts)
• Geographic Scope: United States

Qualifying Activities & Focus Areas:
The award recognizes public outreach achievement in the following areas:

Qualifying Program Categories:

• Community Service - Direct engagement with community members and organizations
• Civics/Court System Education - Educational programs about the legal system
• Bankruptcy/Financial Education - Financial literacy and bankruptcy law education

Example Qualifying Programs:

• Financial literacy classes
• Pro bono assistance projects
• Constitution and Citizenship Day events
• Naturalization ceremonies
• Bankruptcy law education for state court judges
• Civics education programs
• Self-Help Desks for pro se litigants
• Student loan guidance and relief assistance
• Law school clinic participation
• High school civics and educational programs
• CARE (Court Assistance for Relief and Education) programs
• Diversity and mentorship initiatives
• Pro bono honor rolls and incentive programs
• Legal aid and bypass clinics

Selection Process:

• Recipients selected by the Public Outreach Committee
• Based on nominations received from NCBJ members

Recent Recipients:

• 2025: Hon. Vincent P. Zurzolo, U.S. Bankruptcy Court C.D. Calif.
• 2024: Hon. Laurel Isicoff, U.S. Bankruptcy Court S.D. Fla.
• 2023: Hon. Laura K. Grandy, U.S. Bankruptcy Court S.D. Ill.
• 2022: Hon. John E. Waites, U.S. Bankruptcy Court D.S.C.; Hon. John E. Hoffman, Jr., U.S. Bankruptcy Court S.D. Ohio
• 2021: Hon. Catherine Peek McEwen, U.S. Bankruptcy Court M.D. Fla.
• 2020: Hon. Margaret Mann, U.S. Bankruptcy Court C.D. Calif.; Hon. Tracey N. Wise, U.S. Bankruptcy Court E.D. Ky.
• 2019: Hon. Jeffery A. Deller, U.S. Bankruptcy Court W.D. Penn.
• 2018: Hon. Sandra R. Klein, U.S. Bankruptcy Court C.D. Calif.

Contact Information:

• Email: team@ncbj.org
• Phone: 518-694-9827