PORTLAND, MAINE (June 25 , 2007) -- The Honorable Howard H. Dana, Jr., who recently retired after 14 years as an Associate Justice on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, has rejoined Verrill Dana, LLP as Counsel in its Portland office. Dana first joined the firm in 1967 after graduating from Bowdoin College and Cornell Law School and following a clerkship with U.S. District Court Judge Edward T. Gignoux. He served as a Partner in Verrill Dana's Litigation Department until his appointment to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court in 1993 by Governor John R. McKernan, Jr. He was reappointed in 2000 by Governor Angus King, Jr., and retired in March of this year.
In addition to his accomplished law practice and court service, Justice Dana has long been a leader in the cause of legal services for the poor at both the State and national levels. In 1981, he was appointed by President Reagan to serve as a Director of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), where he championed the cause of funding for legal services during his year on that Board. In 1990, he was again appointed to the LSC Board by President George H. W. Bush, serving until his appointment to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court in 1993. In recognition of his commitment to equal access to justice for all citizens, Justice Dana received the American Bar Association's Pro Bono Publico Award in 1985, and the Maine State Bar Association's Public Service Award a year later. In 1988, in further recognition of his outstanding efforts to further the cause of civil legal assistance to those in need, the Maine Bar Foundation established the Howard H. Dana, Jr. Award, which is presented annually to honor an individual for his or her commitment to the goals of the Foundation. The most recent recipient was Colleen Khoury, former Dean of the University of Maine Law School.
"We are extremely pleased to welcome Justice Dana back to Verrill Dana," said Managing Partner David E. Warren. "As he pursues this next step in his distinguished career, I'm confident that he will serve as a positive role model for every other Verrill Dana lawyer, as well as continue his important work to make access to justice more than just a slogan."
Justice Dana and his wife Susie live in Portland.
About Verrill Dana:
Verrill Dana, LLP is a full service law firm with more than 100 attorneys conducting a nationwide practice from offices in Portland, Augusta, and Kennebunk, Maine; Boston; Hartford; Kansas City; and Washington, D.C.