HARRISBURG (March 28, 2003) � The Pennsylvania Bar Association Minority Bar Committee today presented its Lifetime Achievement Award and two Distinguished Jurists awards during its 15th annual conference in Philadelphia. Renowned trial lawyer Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. was the featured speaker during the awards luncheon.

Recognized for his service to the legal profession and community, Philadelphia City Solicitor Nelson A. Diaz was presented with the 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award. A former administrative judge of the trial division of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, Diaz also served as executive director of the Spanish Merchants Association of Philadelphia, special assistant to Vice President Walter F. Mondale and was the first Hispanic to be appointed general counsel for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He also worked for the law firms of Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen and Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley. Active in his community, Diaz has served on many community and civil boards, including the Urban Affairs Partnership; the William Penn Foundation; Temple University Hospital; the Greater Philadelphia First Corporation; the Greater Philadelphia Economic Development Coalition; the Hispanic Association of Contractors and Enterprises (founder); and the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute.

This year�s Distinguished Jurists awards were presented to Montgomery Court of Common Pleas Judge Horace Davenport and Delaware County Court of Common Pleas Judge Robert A. Wright. The Distinguished Jurist Award is presented to a judge retiring from senior status, who through long service on the bench, has established an exemplary record of using the law to undermine injustice, and ensure the equal rights of all before the law. In addition, the award recognizes judicial temperament and contribution to the legal profession in general, and to minorities in particular.

Senior Judge Horace A. Davenport has been with the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas since 1976. Prior to his judgeship, Judge Davenport worked for the law firm of Gerber, Davenport & Wilenzik in Norristown and also as a sole practitioner. He is a member of the Pennsylvania and American Bar associations, the National Advisory Veterinary Medicine Committee of the FDA, the American Trial Lawyers Association and the Estates Planning Council of Montgomery County. He was also a parliamentarian with the Central Montgomery County Branch of the American Red Cross. Judge Davenport received a bachelor of arts degree from Howard University, a master�s degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a LL.B. from the University of Pennsylvania. He received an honorary degree of doctor of laws from Johnson C. Smith University.

Senior Judge Robert A. Wright has served on the Delaware County Common Pleas Court since 1970. Prior to his ascending to the bench, Judge Wright served as an assistant district attorney for six years. He has received many awards and recognitions including the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award, the Honorable Paul R. Sand President�s Award from the Delaware County Bar Association and was recognized by the Children Youth Services of Delaware County for his leadership role as the first African American to serve in the Delaware County judiciary.

Judge Wright is a graduate of Lincoln University and Temple Law School.