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The 2026 Celebrate with the Stars Awards Recipients
(From Left to Right, Rear) Muneer I. Ahmad; Hon. Victor A. Bolden; Gregory P. Muccilli; John M. Russo, Jr.
(Front) Deborah R. Witkin, Newman's Own President and CEO Alex Amouyel, Ginny Kim, Carl M. Porto, Bruce Louden |
View Photos from the Event
View Awardee Testimonial Videos
The Connecticut Bar Association (CBA) welcomed over 300 legal professionals, community members, and their families and friends at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville on March 12 for the thirteenth annual Celebrate with the Stars awards dinner—an evening dedicated to honoring excellence, service, and leadership across the Connecticut legal community.
Before the evening’s presentation began, guests socialized while enjoying live music, a photo booth, and drinks and appetizers. CBA President Emily Gianquinto; President-Elect J. Paul Vance, Jr.; and Vice President Rowena A. Moffett hosted the evenings presentation of awards. Among the event’s attendees was U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, who was invited onstage to congratulate the night’s awardees as well as to be recognized as one of the attorneys celebrating 50 years of admission to the Connecticut Bar. Addressing the attorneys in attendance at the event, Senator Blumenthal stated, “I am inspired to be with you because every day you stand up for people, you represent them, you fight for them, you believe in every individual having rights. So, I am here to say thank you to all of you.” Following Senator Blumenthal’s remarks, the other attending attorneys barred in 1976 were honored with commemorative pins, recognizing their five decades of dedication to clients, the justice system, and the rule of law.
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| Attorneys admitted to the Connecticut Bar in 1976 were honored at the event with 50-year commemorative pins. |
The evening’s central focus was the presentation of the CBA’s annual awards, each highlighting a different dimension of professional excellence and service. Video tributes from colleagues and peers highlighted the accomplishments and character of each award recipient and were followed by brief acceptance remarks from the awardees themselves.
The Honorable Anthony V. DeMayo Pro Bono Award was presented to Gregory P. Muccilli for his dedication to providing pro bono legal services to those in need without any expectation of compensation. Speaking about his work as the chair of Shipman and Goodwin LLP’s Pro Bono Committee, he noted, “Through our team’s work, we were able to assist in keeping over 400 individuals and families housed in the city of Hartford through a multiyear rental assistance program established by Mayor Bronin.”
Young Lawyers Section (YLS) Chair Paige M. Vaillancourt joined the CBA officers onstage to present the Young Lawyers Section Vanguard Award to John M. Russo, Jr., who was recognized for his leadership and lasting contributions to the YLS and the CBA. In her introduction, Attorney Vaillancourt noted, “John embodied everything we want the YLS to be. He was one most inviting faces to new members, making sure he took the time to get know them and include them in conversation.”
The Distinguished Public Service Award was presented to Newman’s Own Foundation, honoring the Connecticut based organization’s significant philanthropic contributions to society. Newman’s Own CEO and President Alex Amouyel accepted the award on behalf of the foundation and spoke about its mission of using 100 percent of the profits and royalties from the sale of Newman’s Own products to support charitable causes.
Ginny Kim earned The Citizen of the Law Award for her meaningful service to charitable and public causes beyond the legal profession, including her work as co-chair of the board for the Center for Children’s Advocacy. During her remarks, she dedicated her award to her father who served in the Korean war for the South Korean Army before moving to the United States and becoming a U.S. citizen. “When he finally immigrated to this country, he came already with a deep, deep reverence for democracy, and understood that our freedoms are secured by the rule of law,” stated Attorney Kim.
The Charles J. Parker Legal Services Award was presented to Deborah R. Witkin, recognizing her longstanding commitment to expanding access to legal services for underserved communities. She retired from her role as executive director of Connecticut Legal Services in January 2026, after 39 years of distinguished service dedicated to expanding access to justice for low-income individuals and families.
Yale Professor Muneer I. Ahmad received The Tapping Reeve Legal Educator Award his significant contributions to legal education, especially through the Worker and Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinic where he and his students represent individuals, groups, and organizations in litigation and non-litigation matters involving immigration, immigrant rights, labor, and the intersections among them.
The John Eldred Shields Distinguished Professional Service Award was presented to Carl M. Porto for his outstanding service to the legal community and the CBA. He served as chair of the CBA Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee for more than two decades, helping to draft the definition of the practice of law in Connecticut and elevate the unauthorized practice of law in the state from a minor misdemeanor to a felony.
The Edward F. Hennessey Professionalism Award was awarded to Bruce Louden, recognizing the outstanding integrity, civility, and mentorship that had defined his legal career. Attorney Louden ended his remarks by noting, “I have been, and I still am, equally blessed in my family and in the law.”
The night’s final awardee, The Honorable Victor A. Bolden, received The Henry J. Naruk Judiciary Award for his contributions to the administration of justice in Connecticut as a federal judge for the U.S District Court for the District of Connecticut. “Today, and every day, I am supported and surrounded by love, the kind of love necessary to do the work that I do,” noted Judge Bolden. “As for that work, it is rooted in this nation’s history, and its deep abiding desire for and commitment to respect. That everyone is to be treated as if they mattered, and everyone knows they matter by how they were treated.”
As the presentation concluded, CBA President Emily A. Gianquinto thanked the event’s attendees, sponsors, and staff for their role in supporting this year’s Celebrate with the Stars. Guests departed with a small token of appreciation, bags of popcorn provided by Newman’s Own, bringing a close to an evening that celebrated the very best of Connecticut’s legal community.