EATON — The Miami Valley Trial Lawyers Association held its annual Judicial Recognition Dinner on May 10, and awarded Preble County Common Pleas Court Judge David N. Abruzzo its highest honor, the George J. Gounaris Award for Judicial Excellence.

In presenting the award, the association said of Judge Abruzzo that he “is known to us for his intellect, his collegiality, his hospitality when we come to his court, his wonderful staff, his ability and willingness to make the tough calls, his refusal to duck tough public cases, including the sentencing of public figures, and his professionalism. And we would be remiss to forget his longevity having served 36 years on the Common Pleas bench, and is one of the longest serving judges in Ohio. Judge Abruzzo has always seen the system of justice, and the world, in the broadest terms.”

The Miami Valley Trial Lawyers Association is made up of leading trial lawyers from across the Miami Valley, including Montgomery, Miami, Darke, Preble, Clark, Greene, Warren, Champaign, and Butler Counties, and is dedicated to the advancement of fair trials and free access of individuals to the courts of this state. Its member attorneys practice in the areas of negligence, criminal law, workers’ compensation, professional malpractice, products liability, family law, insurance law, employment, and civil rights law, on behalf of injured persons, criminal defendants, consumers and families.