Award of Special Merit
Established in April 1988, the Award of Special Merit is presented by the Board of Governors to members of the State Bar of Arizona who have made significant contributions to the furtherance of public understanding of the legal system, the administration of justice, and confidence in the legal profession.
2025 Recipient
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Joseph Kanefield is a partner at Snell & Wilmer who assists clients with legal issues affecting state and local government, including election law and other regulatory matters. He has appeared and argued in dozens of federal and state appellate proceedings, including oral argument before the U.S. Supreme Court. He previously served as Chief Deputy and Chief of Staff to Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich (2019-2023), was a partner at Ballard Spahr (2011-2019), General Counsel to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer (2009-2011), and State Election Director at the Arizona Secretary of State’s office (2004-2009). Joseph was elected President of the State Bar of Arizona (2011-2012), and has served on numerous boards and committees, including the Arizona Commission on Access to Justice, the City of Phoenix Judicial Selection Advisory Board, the Commission on Elected Officials’ Salaries, the United Blood Services Community Leadership Council, and the Phoenix Boys Choir. Joseph is a Professor of Practice at the University of Arizona College of Law and has taught election law since 2007. He received his undergraduate degree in economics from Arizona State University and his law degree from the University of Arizona. |
Previous Recipients
The award has been presented to:
| 1988 | Hon. Frank X. Gordon, Jr |
| 1989 | Not awarded |
| 1990 | Hon. L. Ray Haire |
| 1991 | Prof. Charles M. Smith Hon. Morris K. Udall |
| 1992 | Not awarded |
| 1993 | Mark I. Harrison Charles T. Stevens |
| 1994 | Hon. Nikki A. Chayet Patricia A. Sallen John M. Schlosser |
| 1995 | E. Calvin Fuchs II Duke Nordlinger Stern |
| 1996 | Christopher Johns |
| 1997 | Michael M. Grant |
| 1998 | Not awarded |
| 1999 | Hon. Norman S. Fenton |
| 2000 | Sen. Marc L. Spitzer Hon. Thomas A. Zlaket |
| 2001 | Timothy M. Hogan Norman L. Miller |
| 2002 | Daniel Cracchiolo |
| 2003 | Walter Cheifetz |
| 2004 | Hon. Edward E. Davis (posthumously) |
| 2005 | Frances L. Johansen |
| 2006 | Anthony W. Clark Susan R. Agrillo Norma L. Classen |
| 2007 | Theodore Campagnolo Hon. Gary E. Donahoe |
| 2008 | Larry C. McVey Sidney T. Marable (posthumously) |
| 2009 | John W. Rogers |
| 2010 | Gary R. Stickell Alex E. Navidad |
| 2011 | Hon. Daniel A. Barker James W. Richardson |
| 2012 | Hon. Ann A. Scott Timmer Stephen Weiss |
| 2013 | Mark E. Meltzer |
| 2014 | William W. Owsley |
| 2015 | David B. Rosenbaum |
| 2016 | Gary M. Kula |
| 2017 | Robert L. Gottsfield |
| 2018 | Hon. Michael P. Pollard |
| 2019 | Hon. Dan R. Slayton |
| 2020 | Stacy Rupprecht Butler Denice R. Shepherd |
| 2021 | Anne Ronan |
| 2022 | Know Your Rights |
| 2023 | Barbara Atwood |
| 2024 | D. Christopher Russell |
State Bar Annual Awards
- Award of Appreciation
- Award of Special Merit
- Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Award
- Hon. John R. Sticht Disability Achievement Award
- James A. Walsh Outstanding Jurist Award
- Mark I. Harrison Excellence in Mentorship Award
- Member of the Year Award
- Michael C. Cudahy Criminal Justice Award
- Outstanding In-House Counsel of the Year Award
- President's Award
- Sharon A. Fullmer Legal Aid Attorney of the Year Award
- Tom Karas Criminal Justice Award