Lawyers Journal

The Judicial branch of government is supposed to be on equal footing with the Executive and Legislative branches, but for some reason, that never seems to be the case when it comes to the budget. For too long it seems our courts have suffered disproportionately when purse strings need to be tightened.

Daniel J. Bennett is used to looking at things from different angles. During an impressive legal career as both a prosecutor and defense attorney, he's often been on opposite sides of the same issues. Now he has an opportunity to analyze issues from a leadership standpoint and help craft policies that keep the commonwealth a safer place.

The Massachusetts Bar Association will hold its 2015 Annual Dinner on Thursday, May 7, at the Westin Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer St., Boston. The dinner will feature keynote speaker and internationally acclaimed trial lawyer Mark J. Geragos, principal of Geragos & Geragos, APC, in Los Angeles.

The Massachusetts Bar Association will honor the Hon. Nancy Holtz (ret.) and Boston Globe crime and legal reporter Maria Cramer at the May 14 Excellence in the Law event, co-presented by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Holtz has been selected to receive the Daniel F. Toomey Excellence in the Judiciary Award and Cramer will be presented with the MBA's Excellence in Legal Journalism Award.