The Distinguished Legal Service Award, formerly the Distinguished Judicial Service Award, is presented, annually, at Red Mass. The award is given to an individual who exemplifies the mission of Gonzaga University School of Law and is well connected to the Gonzaga Law community. The award honors those who show longevity of service, an active role in the judicial community and/or strong public service commitment.
Meet the 2021 Recipient: John J. Durkin, 1980 J.D.
John J. Durkin is a 1980 cum laude graduate of Gonzaga Law School and a 1976 graduate of Gonzaga University with a BBA in Accounting. While an undergraduate, John was a member of the Gonzaga University Debate team and represented Gonzaga at the National Debate tournament in 1975 and 1976. During John’s second year of law school, he was awarded the American College of Trial Lawyers medal for Excellence in Advocacy at the Regional National Moot Court competition. John represented Gonzaga Law School at the National Moot Court competition in New York and competed in the finals of the Linden Cup Moot court competition in both his first and third year of law school.
John is married to Allison, a fellow Gonzaga undergraduate alumna. They have five children, three of which attended Gonzaga University and five grandchildren. Their daughter, Colleen, graduated from Gonzaga Law School in 2012.
Following law school, John clerked for the Honorable Smithmoore P. Myers, U.S. Magistrate for the Eastern District of Washington. He joined the Tacoma firm of Troup, Christnacht, Ladenburg & McKasy in September of 1981 where he subsequently became a partner and practiced in the field of personal injury until June of 2020 when the firm closed. John currently is of counsel with the firm of Ladenburg Law in Tacoma.
John has been an active member of the Gonzaga Law School community throughout his career. He served on the Washington State Association of Justice Board and was the recipient of the WSAJ Professionalism Award in 2011. John served on the Board of the Emergency Food Network in Pierce County for several years, and served on the board and was President of the University Place Chamber of Commerce.
Former Recipients
1993
The Hon. William J. Grant, ’54
The Hon. George Shields
1994
Justice James Andersen
The Hon. Richard F. Wrenn, ’60
1995
The Hon. Harold D. Clarke, Jr., ’57
The Hon. Franklin D. Burgess, ’66
1996
The Hon. John J. Ripple, ’50
The Hon. Marcus M. Kelley, ’57 (posthumously)
1997
The Hon. J. Benjamin McInturff, ’52
The Hon. Philip J. Thompson, ’62
1998
The Hon. James M. Dolliver
The Hon. John F. Wilson, ’56
1999
The Hon. Anita G. Dupris, ’81
The Hon. Joseph A. Thibodeau, ’66
2000
The Hon. Richard P. Guy, ’59
2001
The Hon. Richard J. Richard, ’56
Ms. Kathleen M. Taft
2002
The Hon. Robert J. Doran, ’57
2003
The Hon. John Schultheis, ’61
2004
The Hon. Richard J. Schroeder, ’63
2005
The Hon. Paul A. Bastine, ’64
2006
The Hon. Cynthia Imbrogno, ’79
2007
The Hon. Neal Q. Rielly, ’75
2008
The Hon. Richard B. White, ’80
2009
The Hon. Kathleen M. O’Connor, ’75
2010
The Hon. Patricia C. Williams, ’74
2011
Justice Debra Stephens, ’93
Justice Mary Fairhurst, ’84
Chief Justice Barbara Madsen, ’77
2012
The Hon. Gregory D. Sypolt, ’76
2013
The Hon. Ellen K. Clark, ’82
2014
Thomas W. Hillier, II, ’73
2015
The Hon. James M. Murphy, ’73
2016
The Hon. Justin L. Quackenbush, ’57
2017
Howard Herman, ’62
2018
The Hon. Annette S. Plese, '91
2019
J. Donald Curran, '60
Va Lena Curran, '58