Celebrating the Treat Award to retired Probate Judge Paul J. Knierim this year are, from left, Probate Court Judges Helen B. Bennet (ret.), Knierim, Dianne E. Yamin, Claire C. Twerdy, Paul J. Ganim, Philip A. Wright Jr., O. James Purnell III (ret.), Martin F. Landgrebe, Douglas N. Stern, Barbara Gardner Riordan, Joseph A. Egan (ret.) and administrator Beverly K. Streit Kefalas.

Knierim Honored by National College of Probate Judges

The National College of Probate Judges has awarded its highest honor, the Treat Award for Excellence, to former Connecticut Probate Court Administrator Paul J. Knierim, who recently retired after 11 years of service.

Named for the founder of the NCPJ, the Treat Award recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to the improvement of the law of judicial administration in probate or related fields.

During his tenure, Knierim oversaw the consolidation of the state's Probate Courts from 117 to 54, along with expanded continuing education for judges and staff. Under his leadership, Connecticut's probate system overhauled its rules of procedure, and Knierim established standards of practice, online training and a system of random audits for conservators. He is credited with enacting a stronger judicial code and modernizing billing and e-filing systems.

"The most critical accomplishment of Judge Knierim's tenure as probate court administrator was massive Probate Court reform in his first year in office where he successfully built consensus among legislators, judges and municipal leaders," said Judge Dianne E. Yamin of Danbury, a member of the NCPJ executive board. Yamin nominated Knierim and presented the award to him at the organization's fall conference banquet.

Knierim received the award 30 years after his father, Judge Glenn E. Knierim, won the award in 1989. After reflecting on his father's many achievements as administrator, the younger Judge Knierim insisted he would not have received the award but for the efforts of others.

"The event was really a recognition of the fact the all the judges and court staff in our state have worked so hard over the past decade to modernize Connecticut's Probate Courts," Knierim said. "Thanks to those efforts, and thanks to the support of the General Assembly, the probate court system today is now more professional, more efficient and more user-friendly than ever before."

Knierim has returned to private practice at Berlin, Connecticut-based firm Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri, where he concentrates on estate planning and probate litigation. He leads the firm's dispute resolution practice area, assisting families with complex probate and elder law disputes.

Quinnipiac Law Professor Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Jill Martin of Hamden, chair and professor of legal studies at Quinnipiac University, recently received the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association for Paralegal Education. The award was presented at the organization's annual conference in Detroit.

"I am honored and deeply touched to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from AAfPE," said Martin. "I have enjoyed every minute of my involvement in AAfPE, learned so much and made many wonderful friends. I'm excited to be the first person to receive this award." The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes outstanding leadership, service and sustained commitment to AAfPE for more than 20 years.

Martin has been active in AAfPE for 35 years, serving as president, board member, national conference chair, regional conference chair, credentials committee chair and editor-in-chief of AAfPE's professional journal. She has also presented at multiple conferences.

Debra Geiger, president of AAfPE, said Martin was "a natural" to receive the award, considering her many years of service. "Congratulations to Jill on this befitting honor. AAfPE thanks her for over 30 years of outstanding commitment to the organization and its mission," she said. Martin, who joined Quinnipiac in 1985, holds a juris doctorate from Albany Law School and is admitted to practice in Connecticut and New York.