About Us - Emil Gumpert Award

To recognize programs, whether public or private, whose principal purpose is to maintain and improve the administration of justice.

Hon. Emil Gumpert

This $50,000 award is made in honor of the late Honorable Emil Gumpert, Chancellor-Founder of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Judge Gumpert, throughout his more than half-century professional career as an eminent trial lawyer, State Bar president and trial judge, substantially and effectively devoted himself to the administration of justice and to the improvement of trial practice.

The purpose of the award is set forth in the Mission Statement. Key criteria are noted below. The award recognizes programs, public or private, whose principal purpose is to maintain and improve the administration of justice. The programs considered may be associated with courts, law schools, bar associations or any other organization that provides such a program.

Potential candidates may apply directly for the award by submitting the Application form found below to the American College of Trial Lawyers. Candidates may also be nominated by Fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers including State and Province Committees, and by bar associations, law schools, or any person who wishes to propose a candidate for consideration. Nominators should use the Nomination form found below.

In addition to looking for programs that are compatible with the basic mission statement, the Emil Gumpert Award Committee pays particular attention to the following factors in evaluating applications:

• Precisely how will the award money be spent by the applicant?
• Will the applicant accomplish its intended project or goal without the award money?
• Can the applicant’s project serve as a model for wider application?

The Committee generally does not favor applications seeking funds for general operating expenses, to support existing programs, or to add new employees who perform the pre-existing work of the applicant.  Past winners, described in more detail below, all sought funding for new, well-defined programs that, if successful, could be replicated elsewhere.

Award Recipients:

2010  2009	Older & Wiser - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania  Pro Bono Law Ontario - Ontario, Canada
2008	“And Justice For All” of Salt Lake City, Utah
2007	The National Center for Refugee and Immigrant Children, Washington, District of Columbia
2006	Legal Aid University, Boston, Massachusetts
2005	Dakota Plains Legal Services, Mission, South Dakota
Emil Gumpert Application/Nomination Form (updated for 2011 Award Season) Sep 1, 2010:  Opening date for acceptance of applications at National Office Nov 15, 2010:  Deadline for receipt of applications at National Office Official Application for 2011 Award (MS Word .doc)
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