The American Bar Association has awarded Mark Martin—former Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court and founding dean of the High Point University® Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law—the Judicial Division’s William D. Missouri Civility Award. The award was presented in Chicago on July 30th.
The Judge William D. Missouri Civility Award recognizes the highest ideals of the legal profession. It is “presented to an individual who exhibits exceptional qualities of civility, courtesy, and professionalism in their legal or judicial careers towards not only colleagues and litigants, but the public at large.” The award also carries the legacy of its namesake, the late Judge William D. Missouri, whose life and work embodied those same principles. Judge Missouri worked tirelessly throughout his career to promote civility and professionalism through the bar, the bench, and the community, across all racial, ethnic, and gender groups. He advocated for fairness and respect for all individuals.
Chief Justice Martin will join a distinguished group of past recipients, including Judge David Connors of Utah; Judge Peter M. Reyes Jr. of Minnesota; Judge Thomas L. Ludington of Michigan; Judge Guy L. Reece III of Ohio; and Delores Missouri of Maryland.
Below is an excerpt from Chief Justice Martin’s July 30th acceptance speech:
“Now, as the founding dean of High Point University® School of Law, I see civility from another perspective. We must teach civility rather than assume it will appear on its own. Students learn as much from what we do as from what we say. They should understand that civility stands alongside legal knowledge, integrity, and professional competence at the center of legal education.”
Throughout his career, Chief Justice Martin has earned a national reputation as a champion of ethics, professionalism, civility, and judicial excellence. As Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, he convened the North Carolina Commission on the Administration of Law and Justice in 2015, bringing together judges, lawyers, and community leaders to examine the state’s justice system and recommend meaningful reforms.
John Wester, an attorney at Robinson Bradshaw in Charlotte and former president of the North Carolina Bar Association, noted the significance of the award:
“At each stage of his service, Mark Martin has lived the example of duty and devotion—an example for which we should be so grateful. And the steady companions of his duty and devotion have been scholarship and collegiality. When those creating this award focused on ‘civility,’ they were highlighting an element that runs through Mark Martin’s service and character.”
Chief Justice Martin’s contributions have extended far beyond North Carolina. He served on the Board of Directors of the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ) and chaired the CCJ Competence and Professionalism of the Bar Committee, which oversaw proposals concerning judicial ethics and legal education. He also served on the Committee on Federal-State Jurisdiction of the Judicial Conference of the United States. Within the ABA, he has chaired both the Judicial Division and the Appellate Judges Conference. He is an elected member of the American Law Institute.
Former North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Edmunds Jr. commented on his colleague’s award:
“Chief Justice Martin is known and deeply respected nationally as a jurist and a scholar. As the classic example of a person who has never met a stranger, he has been a powerful asset in the legal profession.”
Jennifer L. Martin (no relation), Clinical Associate Professor of Law and Associate Dean of Experiential Programs at High Point Law, remarked:
“Mark Martin is a model of civility, collegiality, and professionalism. He has committed himself to instilling values in his students as they develop their legal skills. The increasingly rare philosophy that you may disagree without being disagreeable is exemplified in the weekly class that he teaches.”
The ABA Judicial Division’s decision to honor Chief Justice Martin reflects a career dedicated not only to excellence in law but also to elevating the standards of the profession. In an era when civility is often tested, the award recognizes his longstanding commitment to treating colleagues, litigants, students, and members of the public with respect and dignity while advancing the rule of law.
In addition to the Judge William D. Missouri Civility Award, Chief Justice Martin has received numerous other honors and recognitions, including membership in the Warren E. Burger Society of the National Center for State Courts; the Robert B. Yegge Award for Outstanding Contribution in Judicial Administration; the Patriot Award from the U.S. Department of Defense; honorary membership in the American Counsel Association; the North Carolina Bar Association’s Liberty Bell Award; and the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of North Carolina’s highest civilian honors.
The Honorable Burley B. Mitchell Jr., a former Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, shared the following:
“When I served as chief justice, Mark Martin served as an associate justice on the Supreme Court. During his tenure on the Court, he uniformly treated all his colleagues with the utmost courtesy, empathy, patience, respect, and professionalism. A paragon of judicial excellence and integrity, Chief Justice Martin is exceptionally deserving of this high honor and recognition.”
See more: https://www.highpoint.edu/law/2026/07/31/chief-justice-mark-martin-receives-aba-civility-award/