RICHMOND—Virginia Bar Association Past President Jeanne F. Franklin will be honored next month for her distinguished public service.

Franklin, who served as VBA president in 2001, will receive the annual Civility in Law Award at an annual Rule of Law event Oct. 23, hosted by the Virginia Law Foundation and the Virginia Holocaust Museum.

Franklin also has served as a board member of the Virginia Law Foundation and has championed initiatives to promote civility, professionalism, and civic engagement. Her recent work includes launching Virginia’s “Building Bridges” movement to support civil discourse and the Rule of Law.

“The Rule of Law and civility in the law go hand in hand,” said VLF President Stephen E. Noona in a news release.  “Great lawyers like Jeanne Franklin steadfastly adhere to professionalism, cooperation, and legal civility. They stand out not only as role models but also as catalysts for a better and more respected legal profession.” 

Also to be honored at the event is the Hon. Michael J. Luttig, receiving the Rule of Law Award.

Luttig served on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals from 1991 to 2006. Before going on the bench, he held prominent roles in the federal government, serving as assistant attorney general at the Department of Justice, counselor to the attorney general and assistant counsel to President Ronald Reagan.

Noona said that Luttig “is a true giant in the legal profession and has tirelessly supported the Rule of Law and the public’s understanding of this overarching principle that guarantees our liberty.”

Prof. A.E. Dick Howard, the VBA’s 2022 Gerald L. Baliles Distinguished Service Award honoree, will be a featured speaker, along with his UVA colleague Charles Barzun.

For details, including registration information, please visit virginialawfoundation.org/ruleoflawevent.