The recipients of this year's New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA) James J. McLaughlin Award include one of the first African American women to serve as a federal court judge and two attorneys whose trial experience includes personal injury, auto and premises liability cases.

The NJSBA Civil Trial Bar Section will present the awards to former Chief U.S. District Court Judge Anne E. Thompson, Eric Kuper and Charles J. Uliano at its annual dinner on Feb. 20.

"The award is in memory of James J. McLaughlin, who demonstrated during his career the highest standard of civility, legal competence and professionalism in the practice of civil trial law," said Michael G. Donahue, chair of the section.