The Charles Siegal Distinguished Service Award was established by the ABILA Board of Directors in 2020 to recognize “outstanding contributions to the ABILA by a member of the ABILA Board, ABILA Committees, and/or the ABILA’s International Law Weekend. In choosing the recipient, the Selection Committee May consider an individual’s specific extraordinary service initiatives and/or sustained superior contributions to the ABILA over a number of years. The inaugural Charles Siegal Award winner was Cynthia Lichtenstein.

After considering several compelling nominations, the Selection Committee selected James Nafziger to be the 2021 recipient of the Charles Siegal Service Award.

Professor Nafziger has contributed to the American Branch and International Law Association (ILA) over a 40-year span.  In the American Branch, he chaired the Human Rights Committee; served as Director of Studies, Vice President, and President; initiated, during his tenure as President, regional ILWs and greatly expanded Branch membership; and promoted cooperation with other international law organizations. In the ILA, he served for over 25 years as Rapporteur and then Chair of the Cultural Heritage Law Committee, which produced valuable studies and two draft conventions. Jim was named to the ILA’s Executive Council in 2000, representing the American Branch there for 16 years before his elevation to the office of Vice-Chair of the Council – one of a very small number of ABILA members ever to have been so honored. Professor Nafziger truly appreciates, and has worked diligently to further, the roles of the ILA and the Branch in preparing committee studies that develop and advance international law and in staging educational and networking events (International Law Weekend, regional ILWs, and ILA conferences); he has strengthened the ILA and the Branch on numerous fronts. And he has been a valuable mentor and resource for the current ABILA leadership.

Please join us in congratulating James Nafziger for this honor. You can watch Professor Nafziger be formally recognized for this achievement at the 99th ABILA Members Meeting here.