Sandra Day O'Connor Award for Professional Service 

O'Connor Award Purpose

The American Inns of Court has established the Sandra Day O'Connor Award for Professional Service honoring an American Inn of Court member in practice ten or fewer years for excellence in public interest or pro bono activities. The purpose of the Award is to honor an Inn member each year for exemplary service and to honor Justice O'Connor for being the paragon of professional service throughout her distinguished career while exemplifying legal excellence, civility, ethics and professionalism.

O'Connor Award Recognition

This award is presented in October to the recipient at the American Inns of Court annual Celebration of Excellence at the Supreme Court of the United States.

O'Connor Award Nominations

  • Submit nomination online using the nomination form. (Login required. If you are not an AIC member, you will need to create an account.)
  • Nominations should include sufficient supporting documentation to enable the selection committee to make a reasoned judgment.
  • The nomination deadline is June 1, 2026.

For more information contact Cindy Dennis by e-mail or by phone at (571) 319-4703.  The recipient will be selected by June 30.

Support This Program! 

If you would like to help support the long-term success of this program with a multi-year pledge, please visit our Howard T. Markey Endowment Fund page.