The Mark Santana Law-Related Education Award recognizes exceptional contributions of Arizona attorneys or law firms in furthering education and understanding of the role of the law in our democratic society. This award focuses on public awareness on the contributions that attorneys provide to the community.

Nominations are due March 15th and are to include the individual's name; firm if applicable; address & other contact information; the award for which they are being nominated and contact information of the nominators; a summary of their characteristics, experiences, and service that qualifies them for the award; and support letters from others may be included. The nomination packets should be sent to The Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, ATTN: Kevin S. Ruegg, 4201 N. 24th Street, Suite 210, Phoenix, AZ 85016 or fax to (602)271.4930.

2008 Award

Pam and Bill Gates have been involved with the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education for a number of years and in many capacities. They have volunteered for the Arizona Mock Trial program for over five years. Their roles have ranged from volunteer attorney coaches to regional coordinators. Pam and Bill have spent countless hours of their own time each year to make sure that teachers and their teams are matched up with volunteer attorney coaches. They then go on to help the other Maricopa County Regional Coordinators to host the Mock Trial Regional Tournament each year, with anywhere from 40-50 teams participating. This includes an entire day of four rounds of competition, lunch, and an awards ceremony. In 2008 they took over recruiting judges for the regional tournament, no small feat, and were successful in providing judges in every courtroom to hear teams present their cases. They have also served as faculty for Law, Civics and Citizens statewide conference held each year by the Arizona Foundation, as well as for the Mock Trial 101 Academy.

2007 Award

Pinal County Judge William O'Neil has served as a Judge of the Superior Court of Arizona in Pinal County for 15 years. Included in this time, he has served as the Presiding Judge for the Superior Court of Arizona from 2001-2005 and the Presiding Juvenile Judge from 1992-2001. Judge O'Neil has proven to be committed to the youth of Arizona. He has generously donated his time to assist with the Mock Trial Competitions in Florence, Arizona, coached various Little League teams, City Soccer teams, and Club Soccer teams. In addition he has been instrumental in speaking with youth about the court system and the benefits to choosing a positive life path. Judge O'Neil has made speaking with youth a priority and made time for many educators throughout Pinal County to bring their students into his courtroom to watch the Juvenile Justice System in action. Judge O'Neil speaks with the youth not only as a Judge but as a friend and role model.

2006 Award

Danielle Janitch from Osborn Maledon, Denise Quinterri of the State Bar of Arizona, and Roni Tropper of Community Legal have put in countless hours coordinating and volunteering for the Volunteer Lawyer Program's Children Law Center. The Center increases services to children with programs such as the Free Legal Advice Clinics for Teens, the Guardian Ad Litem Project, the Guardianship Project, Teens at Work 101, the Dependency Project and the Adoption Project.

Past Winners

2005
Dewain Fox, Fennemore Craig
Danelle Liwski, Pima County Juvenile Court

2004
Honorable Nicole Laurin, Gilbert Municipal Court
Honorable Peter Swann, Maricopa County Superior Court

2003
Honorable Charles W. Gurtler, Jr., Mohave County Superior Court

2002
Lynda Shely (Director of Lawyer Ethics, State Bar of Arizona)

2001
Hon. Robert M. Brutinel (Presiding Judge, Yavapai County’s juvenile court)

2000
Lisa Coulter (Snell & Wilmer, Phoenix)

1999
Honorable Roxanne Song Ong (Phoenix Municipal Court, Phoenix)

1998
James Conlogue (Hitchcock, Hicks & Conlogue, Bisbee)
Timothy R. Hyland (Bess & Dysart, Phoenix)

1997
Wendy S. Morton (Maricopa County Attorney, Phoenix)

1996
Michelle T. Lopez (Kimble, Gothreau & Nelson, Tucson)

1995
Keith Bevan (Teilborg, Sanders & Parks, Phoenix)
Adrianne Kalyna (U.S. Trustee, Phoenix)
Jim Lee (State Bar of Arizona, Phoenix)
Candyce Pardee (Gila County Attorney, Globe)

1994
Jim Blake (Maricopa County Attorney, Phoenix)
Mike Goimarac (Apache County Attorney)
Heidi McNeil (Snell & Wilmer, Phoenix)
Janis Ann Sterling (Sole Practitioner, Prescott)

1993
Jay M. Abbey (Retired Judge, Navajo County)
Thompson, DeRose, Montgomery, Cahill (Globe & Lakeside)
Charles Irwin (Elledge & Irwin, P.C., Sierra Vista)
Jay Zweig (Gallagher & Kennedy, Phoenix)

1992
Carey Hyatt (Arizona Court of Appeals, Phoenix)
William T. Kiger (Sole Practitioner, Prescott)
Barbara E. LaWall (Deputy County Attorney, Pima County, Tucson)
Brian Weinberger (Kalish, Forrester and Torres, P.C., Phoenix)

1991
Paul Blunt (Sole Practitioner, Phoenix)
Paul D. Julien (Sole Practitioner, Tucson)
Maricopa County Attorney's Office, Phoenix
Candyce Pardee (Gila County Attorney)

1990
Karen Adam, Judge (Pima County Superior Court, Tucson)
David Gaona (DeConcini, McDonald, Brammer, Yetwin & Lacy, Phoenix)
H. Jeffrey Coker, Judge (Coconino County Superior Court, Flagstaff)
Snell & Wilmer Law Firm, Phoenix

1989
Paul Brinkmann (Mangum, Wall, Stoops & Warden, Flagstaff)
Michael J. Donovan (Suciu, Donovan & Schmitt, Yuma)

1988
Pima County Attorney's Office, Juvenile Unit - Tucson