Skip to content
Flaschner Judicial Institute

Honorable Edward M. Ginsburg Award for Distinguished Public Service During Judicial Retirement

Nomination Form

The Honorable Edward M. Ginsburg Award for Distinguished Public Service During Judicial Retirement is presented periodically to a retired Massachusetts judge who has made a meaningful volunteer contribution to the administration of justice after leaving the bench. Thank you for taking the time to nominate a deserving judge for this honor.

Retired Superior Court Judge John C. Cratsley was the inaugural recipient of the Hon. Edward M. Ginsburg Award for Distinguished Public Service During Judicial Retirement in 2024. The second award was presented posthumously in November 2025 to Retired Superior Court Judge Paul A. Chernoff.

Award Selection Committee Members:
Hon. Jennifer L. Ginsburg (Chair)
Hon. Julie J. Bernard (Ret.)
Hon. John C. Cratsley (Ret.)
Hon. Paul C. Dawley (Ret.)
Hon. Wilbur P. Edwards, Jr. (Ret.)
Hon. Gail Garinger (Ret.)
Hon. David G. Sacks (Ret.)
Hon. Mary Anne Sahagian (Ret.)
Hon. Karyn F. Scheier (Ret.)
Hon. Richard A. Simons

Criteria:
  • Nominations must be submitted by a sitting or retired judge.
  • Nominees must be retired Massachusetts state or federal court judges, including magistrate judges.
  • Selection Committee Members are not eligible for nomination.
  • You are not required to notify your nominee that they are being considered for this award.
  • Individual judges may submit more than one nomination.
  • Prior nominations may be resubmitted for consideration.
We may contact you to follow up on this nomination, but your nomination will remain confidential.
1.Please provide your contact information.(Required.)
2.Please provide contact information for your nominee.(Required.)
3.Which court did the judge retire from?
4.When did this judge retire?
5.Nomination Statement

Please describe why you are nominating this judge for the Service in Judicial Retirement Award. Focus on the nominee’s volunteer contributions and service after judicial retirement. Include specific examples, roles, initiatives, and the impact of their work on the judiciary, legal community, or public.(Required.)
6.Scope of Service

In what areas has the nominee been active volunteering since retirement? Check all that apply and/or describe briefly.
7.Additional References

Are there other individuals who are familiar with the nominee’s post-retirement volunteer service whom the Selection Committee may contact? If yes, please provide names, titles, and contact information.
8.Supporting Materials (Optional)

Please feel free to forward any supporting materials that may assist the Selection Committee’s review, such as news articles, publications, organizational websites, program information, or letters of support, to programs@flaschner.org.