Representatives of the law school at the ceremony are, from left: Women’s Law Caucus Co-president Ilaria Hare Heiderich, Dean Earl Martin, Judge Ellen Kalama Clark, Women’s Law Caucus Co-president Ashlee Wiese, and Women’s Law Caucus Myra Bradwell Committee Chair Kaitlin Jaccard.

The award is presented each year to a Gonzaga Law alumna who has furthered women’s and children’s issues through the law.

The award is named after Myra Bradwell, who overcam many obstacles to become the first female attorney admitted to practice in the United States.

Judge Clark is a native of Hawaii. She moved to Spokane after graduating from the University of Hawaii, and was persuaded to enter Gonzaga University School of Law by a friend.

The Spokane community has reaped many benefits from that decision.

Judge Clark graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1982 and joined the bench as a Court Commissioner in 1993. She served as a Court Commissioner until 1999, when she was elected to the Superior Court.

Throughout her career, Judge Clark has been an advocate for women and children. She previously served on the Spokane County Family and Juvenile Law Committee and since 2002 has served as the chair of the Spokane County Superior Court Family Law Guardian Ad Litem Committee.