Call for Nominations

The Orange County Bankruptcy Forum announces the Call for Nominations for the Elliott–Albert Award for Excellence in Bankruptcy Leadership and Service.

The Elliott–Albert Award for Excellence in Bankruptcy Leadership and Service (the “Award”) honors the enduring legacies of the Honorable Peter M. Elliott and the Honorable Theodor C. Albert, two extraordinary jurists whose scholarship, integrity, professionalism, mentorship, and service profoundly shaped the Orange County bankruptcy community. The Award recognizes individuals who have substantially improved the bankruptcy community in Orange County and who exemplify the highest standards of knowledge, ethics, access to justice, education, and service.

Original and longtime members of the OCBF will fondly remember Judge Elliott for his scholarship, fairness, professionalism, and concise opinions. Judge Albert carried forward and expanded those same ideals through his distinguished career as a practitioner, trustee, educator, and judge. His fairness, humility, intellectual rigor, mentorship, and dedication to justice left an enduring mark on the bankruptcy bench and bar. It is the hope and purpose of the OCBF that, by continuing this tradition, its members will be encouraged to emulate their shared example of integrity, scholarship, professionalism, mentorship, and service in their practice.

The OCBF Board of Directors asks members to nominate individuals who have substantially improved the bankruptcy community in Orange County and who best embody the values exemplified by Judges Elliott and Albert. Visit the Award page for more information on Judges Elliott and Albert, the history of the Award, and the criteria for nomination and selection.

All nominations must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, August 7, 2026. Nominations should be submitted by completing the online nomination form, including a brief one-paragraph discussion of why the nominee should receive the award.

The selection criteria are as follows:

In order to be eligible for the Award, an individual must be or have been a member of the Orange County bankruptcy community, and must have been determined by the OCBF Board of Directors to have:

• Demonstrated substantial knowledge of bankruptcy law;

• Possessed the highest level of honesty, integrity and ethics;

• Served to enhance and improve access to justice in the bankruptcy field;

• Contributed to the education of the Orange County bankruptcy community; and

• Contributed to the development and improvement of the Orange County bankruptcy community.

The Award shall not be given to members of the judiciary, judicial staff, or court employees during their terms of service at the court. Members of the judiciary, judicial staff, and court employees are eligible for the Award two (2) years after the termination of their service as a judge, judicial staff member, or court employee.

All nominations will be disclosed to the OCBF Board of Directors and the Selection Committee. Beyond disclosure to the Board and the Selection Committee, the identities of all nominees will remain confidential.

Questions:
Contact OCBF at info@OCBF.org or (949) 681-8676.