The Michigan Judges Association (“MJA”) announced that the Hon. Barry L. Howard, formerly of the 6^th Circuit Court in Oakland County, is the recipient of its 2013 Judicial Excellence Award, named after the late Hilda Gage.

The award recognizes those who have excelled in trial and docket management, legal scholarship, and contributions to the profession and the community.  The award honors current or former judges who serve their profession and their communities with integrity, skill, and courage every day.

Barry Howard is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Detroit School of Law.  He served as a circuit judge for the Oakland County court from 1989 to 2001, serving as its chief judge from January 2000 to April 2001. During that time, he taught for the Michigan Judicial Institute, and served the Michigan Judges Association as a board member and as its President.

Judge Howard has continued his service to the profession and the judiciary after he left the bench. He was co-chair of the Judicial Crossroads Task Force.  He is currently Of Counsel to the law firm of Lipson, Neilson, Cole, Seltzer & Garin, PC.

Barry Howard is a former recipient of the Champion of Justice Award by the State Bar of Michigan. In 1995, he was named “one of the top five most respected judges” in the state in a survey of lawyers conducted for WDIV-Channel 4. Western Michigan University named its Barry L. Howard Medallion Scholarship after him.

It gives the Michigan Judges Association great pleasure to present the 2013 Hilda Gage Award for Judicial Excellence to give this award to Barry L. Howard.