The Franklin G. West Award is the OCBA's highest honor, presented to outstanding attorneys and judges whose lifetime achievements have advanced justice and the law.

This annual recognition was established in memory of Judge Franklin G. West, who epitomized the best of the legal profession as both an attorney and a judge. The award is presented at the OCBA’s Judges' Night & Annual Meeting.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2024 Franklin G. West Award. Click here to download the 2024 Franklin G. West Award Application.
Please submit nominations by Friday, November 1, 2024.

Franklin G. West Award Honorees:

• 2023 Attorney Nikki P. Miliband
• 2022 Attorney Mark E. Minyard
• 2021 Attorney Joel S. Miliband
• 2019 Judge James P. Gray
• 2018 Justice William W. Bedsworth
• 2017 Attorney Julie M. McCoy
• 2016 Attorney Dean J. Zipser
• 2015 Attorney Richard W. Millar, Jr.
• 2014 Judge James J. Di Cesare
• 2013 Justice Richard D. Fybel
• 2012 Judge Francisco F. Firmat
• 2011 John B. Hurlbut, Jr.
• 2010  Judge Francisco P. Briseño
• 2009  Attorney Donald S. Gray (posthumously)
• 2008  Judge Nancy Wieben Stock
• 2007  Attorney Wylie A. Aitken
• 2006  Attorney Marjorie G. Fuller
• 2005  Justice Kathleen E. O’Leary
• 2004  Judge Ronald P. Kreber
• 2003  Attorney Andrew J. Guilford
• 2002  Judge David O. Carter
• 2001  Attorney Thomas R. Malcolm
• 2000  Judge John “Jack” Ryan
• 1999  Attorney Michael Pursell
• 1998  Judge Gary L. Taylor
• 1997  Attorney Maurice “Maury” Evans
• 1996  Judge Stuart T. Waldrip
• 1995  Justice Sheila Prell Sonenshine
• 1994  Justice Edward J. Wallin
• 1993  Attorney Robert “Sam” Barnes
• 1992  Judge Judith Ryan, Ret.
• 1991  Attorney James Obrien
• 1990  Judge Samuel B. Taylor (posthumously)
• 1989  Justice Harmon G. Scoville
• 1988  Judge George Francis
• 1987  Attorney Don W. Martens
• 1986  Attorney Eugen Andres
• 1985  Justice John K. Trotter
• 1984  Judge Alicemarie Stotler
• 1983  Judge Kenneth E. Lae
• 1982  Attorney Arthur W. Gray, Jr.
• 1981  Attorney William F. Wenke
• 1980  Judge Warren Ferguson
• 1979  Judge Byron K. McMillan
• 1978  Justice Robert Gardner & Attorney Garvin F. Shallenberger
• 1977  Chief Justice Donald R. Wright
• 1976  Attorney John P. McDonald
• 1975  Attorney George A. Parker
• 1974  Judge Raymond Thompson
• 1973  Justice Stephen K. Tamura
• 1972  Judge Bruce W. Sumner
• 1971  Justice Roger J. Traynor