AN HONORABLE MAN

The photo on the wall of the Second District Courthouse.

I am married to an honorable man.

I realize how rare it is to be able to say that and mean it. After nearly five decades Dave Connors has surely proven himself. But when, in 2008, Governor Huntsman appointed him as a state court judge, the title Honorable became official. I joke, in lighthearted conversation, that I have to rise when he walks in the house and that his royal robes hang in his royal study. The first part of that is certainly not true. He is a remarkably humble man. But the second part is real. I do leave one of his long black judicial robes hanging in our study at home, where it had hung all through the Covid Pandemic. He held court “virtually” for many months from our home study. We carried the old American flag we had bought in an antique store in Plymouth Mass. from its usual place by our family room fireplace to the front of the bookshelves behind his desk. This became the backdrop to his virtual courtroom. What people who appeared before him at that time could not see on their screens was that each morning Dave had showered and dressed, with dress pants, shoes and socks, dress shirt and tie as he would any day he entered his real courtroom. No one else could see it under his black robes, but he could. This small thing that only he and I would know represents the level of integrity he has, the respect he holds for his office and the trust given him. 

Dave's virtual courtroom during the pandemic.

Last night, in Toronto, our daughter Kate and I accompanied Dave as he received a most fitting national award, bestowed on him by the American Bar Association. It was a lovely evening in a large room filled with keepers of the law… the folks we trust to apply the thing that sets us, in America, apart from much of the world. If there were any award given that would best represent who David is, this would be the one. It acknowledges the importance of civility, fairness, inclusion, mentorship and emotional generosity toward all mankind. 

His mother and dad would be so proud of him.

My mother would be so proud of him.

I am so proud of him.

Plus, I like him. A lot. 

(I would have probably worn sweatpants under judicial robes. Good thing I’m not a judge. I’ll be the Yang for his Yin.)

Dr. Connors, Judge Connors and Mrs. Connors
(Kate, Dave, me)

Here’s a press release about the award:

Retired Utah District Judge David Connors will receive the honorable William D Missouri Civility Award for his outstanding contributions to the profession during the ABA Annual Meeting in Toronto. The award will be presented August 7 at the Fairmont Royal York.

The honorable Wiliam D Missouri civility award is named for Judge Missouri, who worked tirelessly to promote civility and professionalism through the bar, the bench and the community across racial, ethnic and gender groups advocating for fairness and respect for all individuals. 

Appointed district court judge by Utah governor Jon M Huntsman Junior in October 2007, Connors began his service as a judge in January 2008 after more than 25 years of nationwide private practice Experience as a business lawyer and commercial litigator handling complex civil litigation. He retired as a judge in March 2023. While a judge he handled hundreds of mediations, arbitrations and trials, including judicial settlement conferences mediation conducted by a judge who is not the assigned judge on a case. In private practice, he was an early advocate for mediation and arbitration as efficient methods for settling high conflict disputes. In addition to his experience as a mediator, his ADR experience includes acting for more than 30 years as an arbitrator for the Utah State Bar, both before and during his time on the bench. He is now affiliated with the Utah based law firm Bennett Tueller Johnson & Deere. 

While on the Utah trial court bench, Connor served as a member of Utah’s Judicial Council, the governing body of Utah judiciary. He also served as presiding judge of Utah’s Second District Court, as chair of a statewide guardianship task force known as the Working Interdisciplinary Network of Guardianship Stakeholders, as a member of the Long-Range Curriculum Planning Committee for Utah judges, and as a member of the Utah State Bar’s, CLE Oversight Committee and its Free Arbitration Committee. In 2015 he completed a two-year term as president of the Northern Utah Chapter of the American Inns of Court. 

Connors also has served as a member of Utah’s Board of District Court Judges and served for more than 10 years as the board designated representative to the ABA Judicial Division. He now serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the ABA Judicial Division, National Conference of State Trial Judges, having recently completed a term as nationwide chair of that group. Connors also served as mayor of the city of Farmington, city councilman, and board member of the Wasatch Front Regional Council.

Token.

Judge Heather Welch, Dave, and Judge Toni Clarke

Judge Marion Perkins and her daughter.

Judge Jennifer Mabey and Dave (friends for many years)

Celebrating at Gio Rana's Really Really Nice Restaurant
(that's the real name)

Here's what Judge Toni Clarke said when introducing Dave for the award:

 

"There seems to be a deterioration of civility in the country these days, so we decided to honor the men and women who set an example of civility to others," said Judge Toni E. Clarke, former chair of the Judicial Division. "Judge Missouri was the epitome of civility and professionalism - in the courtroom and in his day-to-day dealings with colleagues, friends and the public.

I first met Judge Connors when he first started being really active with the Conference of State Court Trial Judges. What I learned fairly quickly was he was smart, he was very considerate, he would ask questions, he would make comments, but you could tell they came from someone who gave careful consideration about the situation, whatever it was, and that he was mindful that you can disagree on certain issues, you can have questions about certain issues, but you can be civil about it. You can have conversation and agree to disagree. It was always, and is still always a pleasure for me, even in conversations that have nothing to do with the law, to be able to speak with him on a regular basis. The award is given to a person who exemplifies the qualities of Judge Missouri of civility, courtesy and professionalism towards colleagues, litigants and the public. All of Judge Connors’ colleagues on the bench would agree Judge Connors is deserving of this award.”