COA receives national award for Appeals on Wheels in New York

Court of Appeals of Indiana Chief Judge Robert Altice (center) holds the court's Sandra Day O'Connor Award for the Advancement of Civics, presented in recognition of the Appeals on Wheels program. Altice accepted the award on behalf of the court in New York, joined by (from left) Judges Dana Kenworthy, Melissa May, Nancy Vaidik and Elizabeth Tavitas. (Photo courtesy of Court of Appeals)

Judges of the Court of Appeals of Indiana traveled to New York this week to officially receive the Sandra Day O’Connor Award for the Advancement of Civics. The award was presented in recognition of the Appeals on Wheels program.

Announced in May, the award was presented Tuesday during a luncheon of the annual Conference for Chief Justices and State Court Administrators, hosted by the National Center for State Courts.

Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush, 2022-2023 chair of the National Center for State Courts and president of the Conference of Chief Justices, presented the COA with the award. Court of Appeals Chief Judge Robert Altice and Judges Melissa May, Nancy Vaidik, Elizabeth Tavitas and Dana Kenworthy were present.

Appeals on Wheels — which takes the COA across the state to bring oral arguments to schools and communities in an effort to expand civics education — began informally in the 1980s and became official in 2001. Rush showed historical photos of the program during her presentation and shared quotes from judges, students and teachers who have supported the program over the years.

After receiving the award, Altice recognized each member of the current COA and those who had started and served the Appeals on Wheels program over the past 20 years.