(404) 376-3495, Rebecca DeHart
A Great Escape and a Great Man
The Georgia Trial Lawyers Association honors Judge Anthony A. Alaimo
Atlanta, GA—Hailed as what will be the largest gathering of judges and attorneys in the history of the state of Georgia, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association [GTLA] is hosting The Height of Excellence—an event honoring excellence in Georgia’s judiciary and where Judge Anthony A. Alaimo, a Senior United States District Court Judge of the Southern District of Georgia, will be the first recipient of the inaugural Anthony A. Alaimo Award for Judicial Excellence.
“It is very appropriate that the first award given by the members of GTLA for judicial excellence carries the name of Judge Anthony A. Alaimo and that he will be the very first recipient,” said GTLA President Fred Orr. “Judge Alaimo, at age 88, remains one of the hardest working judges in the entire country. He is among the most beloved and respected judges of the federal judiciary. He is a true American Hero.”
Before beginning his distinguished judicial career, Judge Alaimo served in the U.S. Army Air Corps flying a B26 as a member of the 322nd Bomb Group during WWII. His plane was shot down over the North Sea and Alaimo was captured by the Germans. It was his numerous daring escapes from a German POW camp that inspired the 1963 film, “The Great Escape,” starring Steve McQueen.
An American war hero, Alaimo returned to Georgia, married his high school sweetheart, graduated from Emory Law School and was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1948. In 1968, Alaimo became the 8th President of GTLA and founded the quarterly magazine, “The Verdict.”
In 1971 President Richard Nixon appointed Judge Alaimo to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia where he served as Chief Judge until 1990 and took senior status in 1991.
“Judge Alaimo is highly regarded as one of the most diligent judges in the entire federal judiciary,” stated Orr. “Judge Alaimo is often called to preside over complex cases and lengthy disputes. He is known to conclude cases that were thought to be never-ending in days—if not hours. His judicial skill is simply unmatched.”
Judge Alaimo has been recognized by the Chief Justice of the United States with appointments to most of the leadership positions that exist within the federal judiciary including service on the Judicial Conference on Records Disposition, the Judicial Conference Committee on the Judicial Branch, the Judicial Conference of the United States and the Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States. He is a member in good standing of the State Bar of Georgia and is a Life Member of GTLA.
The Height of Excellence will take place on Thursday, September 18th at the Ritz Carlton, Buckhead. The black-tie optional gala begins at 6:30 pm. Tickets for members of GTLA and their guests are $35 and $50 for all others. Anyone who would like to pay tribute to this great American Hero and to the entire Georgia judiciary is welcome to attend. Please contact GTLA Headquarters at (404) 522-8487 for more information.
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The Georgia Trial Lawyers Association
Protecting the Constitutional Promise of Justice for all by
Guaranteeing the Right to Trial by Jury,
Preserving an Independent Judiciary, and
Providing Access to the Courts for all Georgians
www.gtla.org
