Williamsburg, Va. (Nov. 18, 2009) — Curtis H. “Hank” Barnette, of counsel in the Washington, D.C., office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, is the recipient of the John H. Pickering Award, a premier award given to an attorney by the National Center for State Courts.
The award will be presented during NCSC’s Annual Recognition Luncheon at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Nov. 20. The luncheon will be hosted by Utah’s Chief Justice Christine M. Durham, chair of NCSC’s Board of Directors.
This marks only the second time that the John H. Pickering Award has been given since it was created in 2005. Named for a founding member and former chair of the National Center’s Lawyers Committee, the award recognizes a member of that committee who has professionally and personally contributed to the NCSC in a significant way.
“For more than 30 years, Hank Barnette has been a steadfast advocate for the National Center, and his tireless support for our organization — and, by extension, our mission to improving the administration of justice — is inspiring and much appreciated,” said Mary C. McQueen, NCSC president. “We are fortunate to have an ambassador like Hank Barnette who not only cares deeply about the work of our nation’s courts, but is willing do whatever is needed to ensure that work is supported through education, technology, and research.”
Mr. Barnette is chairman emeritus of Bethlehem Steel Corp., which he joined as an attorney in 1967. Over his 33-year tenure with Bethlehem Steel, he served as the company’s general counsel and secretary, senior vice president and director, and, from 1992-2000, chairman and chief executive officer. His practice at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, which he joined in 2000, focuses on corporate law and governance, arbitration, international trade, and public policy.
From 1989-91, three U.S. presidents — George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush — appointed Mr. Barnette to the President’s Trade Advisory Committee. President Ronald Reagan appointed him to the Council of the Administrative Conference of the United States in 1988, and then Secretary of Labor Elizabeth Dole named him to the Coal Commission in 1990. In addition, Mr. Barnette has testified before congressional committees, and has written and spoken about corporate, litigation, and international trade matters.
Mr. Barnette has served the National Center as a member of its Board of Directors from 2001-07 and chair of its Development Committee from 2003-07 as well as on its Lawyers and General Counsel committees. In 2000, he was inducted into the NCSC’s Warren E. Burger Society, which honors those who have volunteered their time, talent, and support to the National Center in exceptional ways.
Prior to beginning his legal career, Mr. Barnette served in the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps. He was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Manchester, England, and holds degrees from Harvard Business School, Yale Law School, and West Virginia University.
The National Center for State Courts, headquartered in Williamsburg, Va., is a nonprofit court reform organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice by providing leadership and service to the state courts. Founded in 1971 by the Conference of Chief Justices and Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger, NCSC provides education, training, technology, management, and research services to the nation’s state courts.
National Center for State Courts, 300 Newport Avenue, Williamsburg, VA 23185-4147