Brazil Recognized By ABA with Prestigious Award

Contact: Gina V. Brown
browng@staff.abanet.org
202-662-1680

California Magistrate Judge Wayne Brazil to be honored by the
American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution

January 2009 – Washington, DC - The American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution has announced California Federal Magistrate Judge Wayne Brazil as the 2009 recipient of the
Section’s prestigious D’Alemberte-Raven Award.

The ABA’s D’Alemberte-Raven Award recognizes leaders in the dispute resolution community who have contributed significantly to the field by developing new or innovative programs, improvements in service and efficiency, research and writings in the area of dispute resolution or continuing education programs. The Award is named for Robert D. Raven of San Francisco and Talbot D'Alemberte of Tallahassee, former ABA presidents and pioneers within the ABA in the area of dispute resolution.

Throughout his career, Judge Brazil has led and designed innovative ADR programs and has contributed greatly to the body of literature by writing thought-provoking and inspirational articles and opinions on the use and implementation of ADR programs. Judge Brazil has served as a Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California since 1984 and as the Court’s ADR Magistrate has been largely responsible for designing and for supervising the administration of the Court’s multi-faceted ADR program. Judge Brazil has authored numerous books and articles about settlement, special masters, and the public policy issues involved in court sponsored ADR.

Before joining the Court, Judge Brazil was a law professor and a civil litigator. His education includes a bachelor's degree from Stanford University, a master's degree and a Ph.D. from Harvard University (both in American History), and a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.

In congratulating Judge Brazil, Lela Love, the Chair of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution, stated: “Few people in our field have the range of vision, the attention to detail, the energy for new tasks, the depth of experience, or the passion for the enterprise of dispute resolution that Wayne Brazil so generously shares with the world.”

The Award will be presented to Judge Brazil at the Section’s 2009 Spring Conference Annual Awards Breakfast, on April 17, 2009, at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers.