THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 5, 1996 TAG: 9605030207
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 31 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
Thomas E. Neary, clerk of the Portsmouth General District Court, was presented this year's Liberty Bell Award by the Portsmouth Bar Association.
The award is presented each year at a luncheon held on or near May 1.
Each year the award honors a non-lawyer selected by the city's four Circuit Court judges. Nominees are selected on the basis of public service related to understanding and respect for the Constitution, the law and the courts or for contributions to the effective functioning of the institutions of government.
A letter of nomination, signed by three General District judges, said:
``The mere mention of Mr. Neary's name anywhere in the Civic Center or the Supreme Court of Virginia invokes admiration.'' Neary was praised for his supervision of the renovation and reconstruction of the General District Court and for using computer technology and monthly meetings to improve the link between ``law enforcement and court related agencies throughout the city.''
Neary served in the Army and was a Massachusetts State Trooper before becoming a special agent with the Naval Investigative Service.
He became the first civilian director of the NIS Northeast Region in 1987. He served in the Army Reserve for 12 years and the Naval Reserve for 26 years, retiring as a captain in 1994.
He became clerk of the Portsmouth General District Court six years ago and has served as chairman of the Clerks' Advisory Committee to the Committee on District Courts.
He is the District Court Clerk representative to the Alternative Dispute Resolution and Judicial Planning Programs at the Supreme Court and he is one of two clerks who lecture at the pre-bench orientation course for newly appointed District Court judges.
He is president of the District Court Clerks' Association. by CNB