The New Jersey State Bar Foundation's highest award—the prestigious Medal of Honor—will be presented to retired Superior Court Judge Marie White Bell and Joseph P. LaSala, the chair of the state ethics commission.

Given each year to those who have made exemplary contributions to improving the justice system and enhancing New Jersey's legal legacy, the awards will be presented at a dinner on Monday, Sept. 18, at The Palace at Somerset Park in Somerset.

“In looking at the names of the prior honorees and the criteria for receivingthe Medal of Honor, I am completely humbled and overwhelmed,” said LaSala, a partner in the Morristown firm of McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter LLP.