Maryland Bar Foundation honors Judge George Lipman for work with disadvantaged

Maryland Bar Foundation honors Judge George Lipman for work with disadvantaged

Baltimore City District Judge George Lipman has received the Maryland Bar Foundation’s Legal Excellence Award for the Advancement of the Rights of the Disadvantaged.

The Maryland Bar Foundation will present the award to Judge Lipman on Thursday, Jan. 11, during its annual Professional Legal Excellence Awards reception at the College Park Marriot Conference Center and Hotel.

“So many individuals are involved in the criminal justice system merely because they are affected by mental illness,” Judge Lipman said. “This award symbolizes the growing recognition that there can be, and should be, realistic alternatives to incarceration for these vulnerable individuals.”

Judge Lipman has been serving as associate judge for the District Court of Maryland in Baltimore City since 1998. He is currently the presiding judge for the Baltimore City District Court mental health court, in addition to serving on Baltimore’s drug and alcohol abuse council and behavioral health advisory council. He is also vice-chair of the Maryland Judicial Council’s Specialty Courts and Dockets Committee and chair of its Mental Health, Alcoholism, and Addiction Subcommittee.

“We are thrilled that Judge Lipman is being recognized for his lifetime commitment to those who are disadvantaged,” said Baltimore City District Administrative Judge Barbara Waxman. “His tireless work to advocate and protect the rights of those with mental illness has been a lifelong passion of his.”

Judge Lipman has served in many other roles and capacities. He was a member of the Judicial Education Committee, District Court of Maryland, and the Mental Health Oversight Committee for the Maryland Judicial Conference. Judge Lipman has been chair of the Mental Health Committee for the Baltimore City Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and a member of the Maryland State Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council.

Prior to his time with the Maryland Judiciary, Judge Lipman was an assistant public defender and chief attorney for the mental health division with the Maryland Office of the Public Defender.

Organized in 1965, the Maryland Bar Foundation is a non-profit charitable corporation that, through gifts and contributions, works to foster and maintain the honor and integrity of the profession of the law; improve and facilitate the administration of justice; and promote the study of the law and research therein, the diffusion of knowledge thereof, and the continuing education of lawyers. Learn more at Maryland Bar Foundation.

(January 10, 2018)

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