Two women who have made history locally, and a man who champions family law and comes to court on a motorcycle were the honorees at the 13th Annual Judicial Officer Awards Ceremony presented by the Western San Bernardino County Bar Association April 7 in Ontario.
Mitchell Roth Service Award
Joyce Holcomb, the first woman president in the Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino’s 60-year history, is also the first recipient of the Mitchell Roth Service Award.
In her acceptance, she described Roth, who died in December, as her best friend.
She said they had a pact that they would turn down awards, but they named this one after him, and she was the first to receive it, so the pact took a pass.
“He orchestrated this,” she said.
Holcomb is a family law attorney with her own practice.
Judicial Lifetime Achievement Award
Judge Arthur Harrison’s motorcycle was mentioned repeatedly by those who spoke before his presentation of this year’s Judicial Lifetime Achievement Award, given for excellence in “the betterment of the judiciary and the public it serves.”
This award is given only when there is a candidate who is truly worthy, said Angelique G. Bonanno in her award introduction, calling Harrison a champion for family law.
PREVIOUS JUDICIAL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNERS 2019-20 Judge Michael A. Smith 2020-21 Judge Barry L. Plotkin 2021-22 Judge Tara Reilly
Bonanno gave a list of descriptors Harrison’s staff offered of him: He is kind, considerate, caring, funny, remarkably humble, patient; he lets you be heard; the best person I ever worked for.
“There is nothing he wouldn’t do for his staff. There is nothing his staff wouldn’t do for him.”
Harrison, whose retirement is imminent, has served on the bench for more than 21 years. In his acceptance, he confessed to tearing up over leaving the familiar, and then he devoted his speech to recognizing the good work of his fellow honorees.
Harrison is also a helicopter pilot and scuba diver who loves animals and Rollerblading.
Judicial Officer of the Year Award
San Bernardino County Supervising Deputy District Attorney Joseph Gaetano described Judicial Officer of the Year awardee Judge Ingrid Uhler as intelligent, prepared, understanding and compassionate. You know right away she’s going to know the issues and rule fairly, he said.
“She’s very, very fair. That sounds like it’s something easy, but it’s not.”
Uhler, who said she was the first ever pregnant judge in San Bernardino County history, shared the story of a case where a scorned wife had Post-it Notes in her purse detailing how she would kill her husband.
Her acceptance speech recalled her life and career journey.
She was appointed to San Bernardino County Municipal Court by Gov. Pete Wilson in 1995 and moved to the Superior Court in 1998.
Uhler is currently the judge for the first outdoor court in California.
In May, Uhler will receive the Kaufman Campbell Award for Judicial Excellence. She will be the first woman to get both awards.
She has been on the bench 26 years.
