San Bernardino County Justice Receives Prestigious Award

Kaufman-Campbell Award Presented to Judge Tara Reilly

San Bernardino Calif.  – The San Bernardino County Bar Association, a professional association of attorneys and jurists, has honored Superior Court Judge Tara Reilly with the 2012 Kaufman-Campbell Award.

The award was presented at the annual Kaufman-Campbell Awards Banquet, which was held May 17 at the San Bernardino Hilton Hotel.

The Kaufman-Campbell Award is given to judges who have served the bench with distinction while making significant contributions to the community. Recipients typically display the highest standards of judicial excellence while showing integrity, wisdom and impartiality.

Judge Reilly joined the bar in 1989 as a new attorney, and has been an honorary (judicial) member of the San Bernardino County Bar Association since taking the bench in 1996. Her judicial assignments have included criminal, civil, juvenile dependency and treatment courts. She is currently assigned to family law court.

“I have the greatest job in the world,” Reilly said shortly before receiving the award. “Even on the bad days, and there are some, it’s still the best job in the world. It’s a constant opportunity to learn.”

Being selected as a Kaufman-Campbell Awardee is “a tremendous honor” and one of the highlights of her judicial career, Reilly said.

“I was really surprised when they told me,” she said. “Very pleased, but surprised. It’s, a huge honor. The difficult part will be living up the award.”

Reilly is a deserving recipient of the Kaufman-Campbell Award, said Michael Scafiddi, past president of the San Bernardino County Bar Association. “She’s a great judge and an even better human being. The association couldn’t have picked anyone better,” Scafiddi said.

The bar association established the Kaufman-Campbell Award in 1999 in honor of Marcus M. Kaufman, former Associate justice of the California Supreme Court, and Joseph P. Campbell, former presiding justice of the California Court of Appeal, 4th District, Division 2. Past winners include Judge Manuel A. Ramirez in 2011, Judges James McGuire and J. Michael Welch in 2010, Margaret Powers in 2009, Michael Dest in 2008, Brian McCarville in 2007 and A. Rex Victor in 2006.

About the San Bernardino County Bar Association
The San Bernardino County Bar Association is a regional organization of legal professionals whose mission is to serve the local community and improve the judicial system. Established in 1875, the association has more than 1,000 members. It provides referral services, education, legal assistance, scholarship opportunities and political advocacy. For more information visit www.sbcba.org.