Jon Trachta's service to his community has been a theme throughout his life.  He was a Marine Corp jet pilot during the Vietnam War, delivered doctors, dentists and medical supplies by plane to impoverished communities in Mexico, campaigned for candidates who believed in upholding the rule of law, and board member for the Triangle Y YMCA summer camp to name a few.

Helping and serving others is an important aspect of Jon's work and life.  As a pro bono attorney, he assisted many individuals who could not afford legal assistance.  As a board member of the Triangle Y summer camp, he raised funds to assure children of all incomes could attend. He has served as a Judge Pro Tempore doing settlement conferences and other activities for free. He also has served as board president for the Southern Arizona Legal Aid and is founding member of Votesmart.org.

Mr. Trachta is a devoted educator and mentor. He volunteers with the University of Arizona College of Law to assist with trial practice and deposition training and has served as an instructor with the State Bar’s College of Trial Advocacy.

As an attorney and litigator, he is the consummate professional, never letting his advocacy cross the ethical line.  In his current mediation practice, he treats both sides with respect and works hard to resolve all cases.   He sees mediation as a challenge to bring both sides to a mutual resolution.

Over 15 individuals submitted letters of support for Mr. Trachta’s nomination.  Each letter spoke of his integrity, compassion, professionalism and advocacy. “Jon is a great professional in all senses of the word and has been very tireless and unselfish with his time to benefit the legal community and community at large.”

Matt’s unwavering commitment to serving others is a keystone of his character and is demonstrated by his many contributions to the legal profession and our community needs.

In addition to a distinguished legal career as a leading corporate and securities attorney in the Southwest for more than three decades, Matt served as chair of Snell & Wilmer between 2015-2023. He approached leadership with a service mindset consistent with the firm’s Credo, which Matt helped to develop decades ago, and focused on service to clients, the community, and each other. Matt led by example, and encouraged others to do the same. Today, Matt continues to serve as a leader within the firm and our community.

As a champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, Matt challenges firm leaders, attorneys, and staff to think about how we can do better. Under his leadership, the firm flourished in its work to address complex DEI issues within the workplace and in the legal profession. Whether it is creating community for first-generation attorneys and LGBTQ+ individuals or finding ways to better support diverse attorneys and their practices, Matt’s support is instrumental in the progression of these endeavors.

In the community, Matt also led a wide range of charitable groups unrelated to the law. These groups include the Phoenix Symphony, the Valley of the Sun United Way, the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM), St. Joseph the Worker Job Service for the Homeless, and the Notre Dame Law School Advisory Council. Matt’s musical group Feeney/Winthrop annually performs for the benefit concert in support of St. Joseph the Worker Job Services. In doing so, the group has raised tens of thousands of dollars for this organization. In 2023, Matt was selected for the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation’s Service Above Self Award. The award recognized an individual who serves others without expectation of reward, whose pattern of service is to give unselfishly to their fellow man with thoughtfulness and helpfulness while putting the needs of others before their own. Recipients of this award look beyond themselves to serve fellow citizens through a continued commitment and philanthropic efforts to better the community. The award is a true reflection of Matt’s distinguished character.

Trish began her service to the organized bar as a very young lawyer. She became active in the ABA Section of Litigation and rose through its leadership ranks to serve in 2003-04 as the Section's Chair, the fifth woman lawyer elected to that prestigious position. Her national initiative on The Vanishing Trial brought focus to the dwindling number of state and federal trials in America.

Trish is also a renowned litigator and has been a partner in two of our nation's great law firms, the Chicago office of Jenner & Block and the Phoenix office of Snell & Wilmer, the latter for more than 25 years. She has tried and litigated cases across the country. She has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, Southwest Super Lawyers, and Who's Who Legal Commercial Litigation, and was named one of the 50 Most Influential Women Lawyers in America by the National Law Journal.

Trish's commitment to legal services and pro bono work has always been strong. She personally litigated prisoner's rights matters in both class and individual actions and represented a death row inmate in post-conviction challenges to his death sentence. She regularly performs intake work at the Volunteer Lawyers' Project in Phoenix, and she has volunteered with ABA Free Legal Answers, answering online legal questions from low-income Arizonans. She personally spent a week on the Texas border representing an asylum seeker through the Pro Bar program and championing the needs of this underserved community. She twice chaired ABA Day in Washington, the ABA's annual lobbying effort on Capitol Hill to support adequate funding for the Legal Service Corporation. As ABA President, she spoke at multiple LSC-sponsored events designed to expand access to justice and support the legal services community.

Trish was the 144^th President of the American Bar Association and only the second Arizonan to ever hold the position. In the midst of the pandemic, the White House reached out to Trish as the ABA President to address the tsunami of evictions expected once moratoria were lifted. Trish spearheaded the ABA's response and assisted to create a network of bar leaders, LSC directors and government officials to address the crisis. At the White House Eviction Prevention Summit, Trish was asked to lead the only panel discussion on eviction mitigation and diversion programs.

Ms. Refo’s list of accomplishments, her leadership, her commitment to legal aid and mentoring is astounding and we are honored to recognize her with the Craig award.

2022

Lillian Johnson

2021

Hon. Maurice Portley

2020

Prof. Andrew Silverman

2019

Hon. Lawrence Winthrop

2018

Patrick McGroder

2017

Don Bivens

2016

Hon. Peter Cahill

2015

William Hardin

2014

Neal Kurn

2013

Barbara Dawson

2012
Justice Michael Ryan

2011
Robert Schmitt

2010
Prof. Robert Bartels

2009
Bill Jones

2008
Michael Flood

2007
William Haug

2006
Ted Schmidt

2005
Daniel J. McAuliffe (Snell & Wilmer, LLP., Phoenix)

2004
Paul Eckstein (Brown & Bain, P.A., Phoenix)

2003
Peter D. Baird (Lewis & Roca LLP, Phoenix)

2002
Mark Harrison (Osborn Maledon PA, Phoenix)

2001
Larry Hammond (Osborn Maledon PA, Phoenix)

2000
Grace McIlvain (Haralson, Miller, Pitt & McAnally)

1999
Kenneth J. Sherk (Fennemore Craig)

1998
John J. Bouma (Snell & Wilmer)

1997
D. Burr Udall (Chandler, Tullar, Udall & Redhair)

1996
Hon. Thomas Tang

1995
Edward Jacobson (Snell & Wilmer)

1994
Ashby I. Lohse

1993
Calvin H. Udall (Fennemore Craig)

1992
John P. Frank (Lewis & Roca)

1991
Elias M. Romley (Sole Practitioner)

1990
Charles E. Ares

1989
H. Karl Mangum

1988
Philip E. Von Ammon

1987
Mark Wilmer