Five attorneys earn Margaret Brent women lawyers of Achievement Award

By Rabiah Alicia Burks American Bar Association News Service WASHINGTON--Five women whose accomplishments have opened doors for women in law, while shaping the lives of people throughout the world, will be honored with one of the legal profession's most prestigious awards. The American Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession will honor Eleanor Dean ("Eldie") Acheson, Paulette Brown, Karen J. Mathis, Col. Maritza Ryan, and Hon. Esther Tomljanovich with the 2011 Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award. A sixth honoree, Right Hon. Chief Justice Beverley McLaughlin of the Supreme Court of Canada, will receive a special award. "The Margaret Brent Awards recognize the remarkable achievements and accomplishments of distinguished women lawyers from around the country" said Roberta D. Liebenberg, chair of the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession. "Our honorees have not only achieved great professional success, they have also blazed the trail for other women lawyers and served as inspirational role models." The award ceremony and luncheon will take place Sunday, Aug. 7, at the Metro Toronto Convention Center in Toronto, Canada, during the ABA Annual Meeting. In addition to honoring the Margaret Brent Award recipients, the ABA will also recognize "the 20 outstanding women third-year law students selected by the Ms. JD organization for the commission's unique fellowship program," Liebenberg said. "These 'Brentees,'" Liebenberg explained, "will be paired with former and current Brent Award recipients and commission members for a one-year mentoring experience that will provide an invaluable springboard to launch their legal careers." The Women Lawyers of Achievement Award, established in 1991, honors outstanding women lawyers who have achieved professional excellence in their area of specialty and have actively paved the way to success for others. The award is named for Margaret Brent, the first woman lawyer in America. Brent arrived in the colonies in 1638 and was involved in 124 court cases in more than eight years, winning every case. In 1648, she formally demanded a vote and voice in the Maryland Assembly, which the governor denied. Previous honorees range from small-firm practitioners to U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Award recipients are selected on the basis of their professional accomplishments and their role in opening doors for other women lawyers Published: Thu, Jul 28, 2011

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