HARRISBURG (Feb. 27, 2009) - The Conference of County Bar Leaders (CCBL) of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) has honored Judge Thomas M. Golden of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with its 2009 Gilbert Nurick Award for his commitment to the Pennsylvania and Berks county bar associations. The award was presented during the 43rd Annual Seminar of the Conference of County Bar Leaders, Feb. 27, in State College, Pa.

The Gilbert Nurick Award, which is named for the late Harrisburg lawyer who served as PBA president, is presented to a member of the PBA who exhibits dedication and service to the leadership and promotion of the organized bar and its activities.

As president of the Berks County Bar Association in 1993, Golden worked to improve the association's recordkeeping, led efforts to renovate the association's building to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and established a planning retreat for the association's board.

Golden served as the 2003-04 president of the PBA. He also has provided leadership for a number of the association's committees, including serving as chair of the Client and Community Relations Committee, the PABAR-PAC and the Planning Committee and vice chair of the Editorial Committee.

Golden served on the board of directors for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, the continuing legal education arm of the PBA, from 2000 through 2004.

He served on the board of the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the PBA, during 2003 and 2004.

Golden also served the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania as chair of the Continuing Legal Education Board and as a hearing officer of the Disciplinary Board.

In June 2006, Golden was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District.

The Conference of County Bar Leaders, whose membership includes leaders from county bar associations throughout the state and from the Pennsylvania Bar Association, organizes a yearly educational conference focusing on the exchange of innovative bar association projects and ideas and on the development of mutually-beneficial relationships among bar leaders that improve the legal profession.

Founded in 1895, the Pennsylvania Bar Association strives to promote justice, professional excellence and respect for the law; improve public understanding of the legal system; facilitate access to legal services; and serve the 29,000 lawyers who are members of the association.