KARLA M. GRAY EQUAL JUSTICE AWARD

Karla served 18 years on the Montana Supreme Court and was elected the first female chief in 2001, serving until she retired in 2008. Throughout her career on the bench, Karla remained Montana’s access to justice vanguard, serving for ten years on the State Bar Justice Initiatives Committee and guiding the launch and critical leadership of the Equal Justice Task Force. Under Karla’s watch, the Montana Supreme Court created the Court Help Program and established the first statewide pro bono coordinator position. Karla’s courage and dedication were pivotal in the advancements of access to justice efforts over two decades. Karla reminded us that equal justice was “not an impossible dream”, and insisted, “We can’t afford to think otherwise unless and until we have given our all to make the dream a reality . . . and do Montana justice.” Karla passed away in February, 2017, but her legacy continues through the justice foundation she laid, the access programs she built, and through this legacy award given with honor in her name.

The Karla M. Gary Equal Justice Award honors a judge from any court who has demonstrated dedication and significant efforts to improving access to the Montana justice system.

The Karla M. Gray Equal Justice Award is conferred annually after review of all nominations by the State Bar of Montana Justice Initiatives Committee and selected by the Montana Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission.

Nomination Requirements 1. Complete and submit the Karla M. Gray Equal

Justice Award nomination form.2. Provide nominee’s resume, biography or

other information which includes a historyand contributions to improving access to thecourts in Montana.

3. In additional pages, provide award criteriadescription, letters of support or publicationswhich provide specific examples of nominee’scontributions for any of the following thatmight apply:

a. personally done noteworthy or considerablework improving access of all individuals,regardless of income, to the Montana courtsystem;

b. Instrumental in local access to justice efforts,including program development, cooperativeefforts between programs, and support forcommunity outreach efforts to improveunderstanding of and access to the courts;

c. active support of citizen involvement in thejudicial system; existing pro bono programsponsored by a bar association;

d. active support and commitment to increasinginvolvement of volunteer attorneys inrepresenting the indigent and those of limitedmeans;

e. Other significant efforts that exhibit a long-termcommitment to improving access to the judicialsystem.

Deadline and Timetable

Nominations for the 2019 Karla M. Gray Equal Justice Award are due by June 17, 2019. Complete the attached Nomination Form or visit www.montanabar.org to download materials.

The State Bar of Montana Justice Initiatives Committee (JIC) will forward eligible names to the Montana Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission.

The Commission will select recipient(s) no later than July 15, 2019.

All nominators and recipient(s) will be notified about the status of nominations as soon as possible after selections are made.

The Karla M. Gray Equal Justice Award will be presented at the 2019 State Bar of Montana Annual Meeting Awards Banquet in Billings September 2019.

Karla M. Gray Equal Justice Award Nomination Form

Email Nomination Form and materials no later than June 17, 2019 to:Ann Goldes-Sheahan, Equal Justice Coordinator

State Bar of Montana agoldes@montanabar.org

Full Name of Nominee: _________________________________________________________

Nominee Address: ____________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip: _______________________________________________________________

Telephone: ___________________ Email: ________________________________________

In separate attachment(s), please provide specific descriptions of significant contributions of your

nominee which can include letters of support, publications and specific examples of nominee’s

involvements, impacts and influences for any of the criteria outlined that might apply. See nomination

requirements for details. You may include your nominees biography or resume. Do not provide any

confidential information.

Please mark all that apply and describe any attachments provided:

Description of nominee’s equal justice contributions.

Number of description pages attached: __________

Letters in support of nomination.

Number of letters of support attached: __________

Articles or publications concerning your nominee’s contributions.

Number articles or publications attached: __________

Have you included your nominee’s biography or resume?

Yes No

Names of person/organization submitting this nomination:

Name: _______________________________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip:_________________________________________________________________

Phone: _____________________ Email: ____________________________________________