Independent courts termed crown jewel

An independent court system, free from undue political pressure, is "the jewel in our Constitution's crown," U.S. District Judge Dale A. Kimball said in the keynote address at Thursday's Law Day luncheon.

Kimball spoke on the topic of "Celebrate Your Freedom: Independent Courts Protect Our Liberties" at the annual celebration of the role of the law in protecting citizens' constitutional freedoms.

The federal judge lauded the system as an effective one that adequately protects the rights of the people and strikes an appropriate balance between all three branches of government.

"The founders knew what they were about," Kimball said. "Judicial review and judicial independence have had a large hand in making us what we are."

Kimball spoke of his son, an attorney for the cellular phone company Nokia, who often conducts business in countries without independent judiciaries, where judges oftentimes are targeted for decisions that may be unpopular.

Showing the same wit and candor he often exhibits on the bench, Kimball noted these judges are often "removed" in the most general sense. "Let me just state, as a personal sidenote, that it is a good thing not to assassinate judges," he said.

The following individuals and organizations were honored at Thursday's luncheon:

• Augustus G. Chin — The Salt Lake prosecutor and Utah State Bar commissioner received the Scott M. Matheson Award for his efforts as Utah Minority Bar Association president, where he initiated an annual essay contest, and coach of this year's winning mock trial team from West High School.

• Utah State Bar — President John A. Adams accepted the second Scott M. Matheson Award for the bar's support of law-related education through its "Dialogue on Freedom" and celebration of the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Marbury vs. Madison.

• Amy E. Hayes — An associate at the law firm of Dart, Adamson and Donovan, Hayes picked up one of two Young Lawyer of the Year awards. Hayes practices in the area of family law, and serves as a private guardian ad litem, is a member of the Utah State Bar's Family Law Section and is chairwoman of the Membership and Needs of Children's committees within the bar's Young Lawyers division.