NCSC's Fall Events
November 18-19, 2026
Washington, D.C.
The 31st Annual William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence
In recognition of the Honorable C. Shannon Bacon, Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court
Thursday, November 19, 2026 | 6:00 pm
The Supreme Court of the United States | Washington, D.C.
The William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence is presented each year to a single jurist. This year, that distinction belongs to Justice C. Shannon Bacon of the New Mexico Supreme Court.
The honoree
Justice Bacon has devoted her career to the challenges that shape whether justice is truly within reach: access to the courts in rural communities, the compensation that sustains an independent judiciary, guardianship and conservatorship reform, behavioral health, and the pathways into the legal profession. Her leadership has strengthened New Mexico's courts and set an example for courts across the country.
The award
Established in 1996 by the National Center for State Courts with the approval of the late Chief Justice of the United States, William H. Rehnquist.
Presented annually to a state court judge who possesses the outstanding qualities of judicial excellence: integrity, fairness, open-mindedness, knowledge of the law, professional ethics, creativity, sound judgment, intellectual courage, and decisiveness.
For three decades, the Rehnquist Award has recognized the chief justices, appellate jurists, and trial judges whose leadership has made American courts more fair, more accessible, and more worthy of public trust. Learn more on our awards page.
We invite you to join us for an evening honoring her service and the state courts that hold the nation's promise of justice.
Commercial Courts: A NCSC National Forum Economy on the Docket
November 19, 2026 | 9:00 am to 3:00 pm ET | Washington, D.C. | $750
The strength of America's economy depends on markets, capital, and innovation. It also depends on courts that can resolve complex business disputes fairly, efficiently, and with confidence.
On the day of the Rehnquist Award ceremony, NCSC convenes chief justices, business court judges, corporate counsel, leading practitioners, and international experts to examine the future of commercial justice. Jeffrey A. Taylor, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Exxon Mobil Corporation, delivers the keynote on why state courts matter to American business.
Hotel accommodations
The Willard InterContinental
1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
NCSC has reserved a block of rooms at a rate of $380 per night, plus tax (currently 15.95%).
Reservations must be made by Friday, October 23, 2026.
To book by phone, call (800) 424-6835 and identify yourself as a guest of the NCSC Fall Event 2026.
Please disregard the $35.00 daily amenity fee. This charge is waived for our group and will not appear on your final folio.
Support the work
Gifts made in honor of Justice Bacon support NCSC's work with state courts nationwide.
