Samuel E. Gates Litigation Award

The Samuel E. Gates Litigation Award was established in 1980 to honor a lawyer or judge who has made a significant contribution to the improvement of the litigation process. The person selected might be a trial practitioner, a judge, a teacher, a writer, a legislator, an administrator, or initiator of organizations or programs, or some other person whose work has been substantively significant or who has inaugurated or advanced significant programs.

Samuel E. Gates was a President-Elect of the College who died shortly before he was to be sworn in, and the College created the award to honor his memory. Funding for the award was provided to the College’s Foundation by Gates’ old firm, Debevoise and Plimpton of New York City. Gates was recognized as a pioneer in the field of aviation law, playing a major role in shaping the laws and international conventions that govern airline flights, and in representing domestic and international airlines.

How To Submit a Nomination

A nominator need only submit a letter of support, and the award committee will complete an investigation before deciding whether to recommend the person to the Board of Regents. You may send your letter to nationaloffice@actl.com.

Samuel E. Gates Litigation Award Recipients

2023
Hon. Jeremy Fogel
Berkeley Judicial Institute

2022
Hon. Barbara M. G. Lynn
Dallas, Texas

2020
M. David Lepofsky
Author and Adjunct Professor
Toronto, Ontario

2016
Justice Rebecca Love Kourlis
Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System
Denver, Colorado

2015
Hon. Allan van Gestel, Fellow
Boston, Massachusetts

2013
Donald R. Dunner, Fellow
Washington, District of Columbia

2011
James B. Sales, Fellow
Houston, Texas

2008
Hon. Judith S. Kaye
Chief Judge of the State of New York Court of Appeals
New York, New York

2007
Hon. Ronald M. George
Chief Justice of California
San Francisco, California

2004
Hon. Robert R. Merhige, Jr.
Judge, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Ret.)
Richmond, Virginia

2004
Garry D. Watson, Q.C.
Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School
Toronto, Ontario

2003
William R. Jones, Jr., Fellow
Phoenix, Arizona

2002
James E. Coleman, Jr., Fellow
Dallas, Texas

2000
James J. Brosnahan, Fellow
San Francisco, California

1999
Honorable Dorothy W. Nelson
Senior Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Pasadena, California

1997
Honorable Patrick E. Higginbotham
United States Circuit Judge, United State Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Dallas, Texas

1993
Honorable William J. Brennan, Jr.
Supreme Court of the United States
Washington, District of Columbia

1991
Honorable William W. Schwarzer
Director, The Federal Judicial Center
Washington, District of Columbia

1990
Honorable Sam C. Pointer
Chief Judge of the United States District Court
Birmingham, Alabama

1989
Honorable David Hittner
United States District Judge, Southern District of Texas
Houston, Texas

1988
Professor A. Leo Levin
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1987
Robert W. Meserve, Fellow
Boston, Massachusetts

1986
Professor Daniel J. Meador
University of Virginia School of Law
Charlottesville, Virginia

1985
Professor John W. Reed
University of Michigan Law School
Ann Arbor, Michigan

1984
Honorable Robert E. Keeton
United States District Judge
Boston, Massachusetts

1983
Joseph A. Ball, Fellow
Los Angeles, California

1982
Honorable Erwin N. Griswold
Former Dean of the Law School of Harvard College and Former Solicitor General of the United States
Washington, District of Columbia

1981
Honorable Edward Weinfeld
United States District Judge, Southern District of New York