THE AWARD
The Federal Magistrate Judges Association (“FMJA”) established the Diversity Award to recognize outstanding deserving individuals or entities who promote diversity and inclusion within the federal judiciary and the legal profession. The award is presented on an “as justified” basis.
Award recipients will be announced at the annual FMJA meeting. This provides a national stage upon which to highlight the FMJA’s commitment to diversity and inclusion and educate the FMJA membership about FMJA's efforts to advance diversity and inclusion in the federal judiciary and the legal community.
ELIGIBILITY and CRITERIA
Any federal judge, attorney, law firm, law school, legal clinic, individual, or other organization that meets the award criteria are eligible. Nominees who demonstrate a sustained and continuous contribution, or a single exceptional contribution, to promoting diversity and inclusion within the federal judiciary and the legal profession will be considered. Nominations of individuals should be based on their contributions to diversity and inclusion, and nominations of entities should be based on programmatic activity.
NOMINATION PROCESS
The nomination process begins with the electronic solicitation of nominees from the membership of the FMJA. Any FMJA member may submit a nomination.
SELECTION PROCESS
All nominees will be screened by the members of the FMJA Diversity Committee. The Committee will review the nominations, apply the criteria and, in those years in which the Committee determines an award is merited, will make a recommendation to the FMJA Executive Committee. The selection of the recipient of the award and if an award should be made is at the discretion of the FMJA Executive Committee.