ICWA JUDICIAL EXCELLENCE AWARD

THE 2025 JUDICIAL EXCELLENCE AWARD NOMINATION FORM

“At the heart of every successful Indian Child Welfare case is a dedicated judge”

The Court Improvement Program (CIP) Indian Child Welfare Subcommittee, in partnership with the Oklahoma Indian Child Welfare Association (OICWA), is now accepting nominations for the ICWA Judicial Excellence Award.

This award honors a judge who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), Tribal-State collaboration, and the well-being of Native children and families. This award is presented in odd-numbered years.

Eligibility & Submission:
Nominations are welcomed from Indian Child Welfare staff and will be reviewed by a panel of ICWA experts to determine the award recipient.

Award Presentation:
The selected judge will receive a Pendleton blanket and certificate of recognition, presented at the CIP Judicial Conference, scheduled for:

October 15–16, 2025 in Norman, Oklahoma, or
October 29–30, 2025 in Tulsa, Oklahoma,
depending on the honored recipient's location preference.

The awardee will be notified by September 20, 2025.

We encourage you to nominate a judge who exemplifies ICWA excellence and leadership in upholding Tribal sovereignty and the best interests of Native children.

This prestigious award recognizes a current or former Oklahoma State District Judge who exemplifies exceptional judicial excellence. Honorees will have demonstrated qualities such as integrity, fairness, open-mindedness, legal expertise, professionalism, strong ethics, creativity, sound judgment, courage, and decisiveness.

The ideal nominee will have devoted their career to advancing the rule of law and upholding the principles of justice under the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and the Oklahoma Indian Child Welfare Act (OICWA).

Please note: Nominees must not be candidates for election or appointment to any elected public office at the time of nomination or selection.

Nominations are due by September 15, 2025. Submit this form and attach a nomination narrative. Please contact Kendra Lowden at kendra.lowden@gmail.com with any questions.

To nominate a candidate, please submit the following:

Past Honored Recipients

Dedication. Expertise. Passion.

Judicial Excellence Award Honorees

Inaugural Recipient in 2017

Honorable Judge

Cassandra Williams

Oklahoma County Juvenile Court

Judge Williams' leadership in establishing a dedicated ICW Deprived Case Docket and convening an annual collaboration meeting with Indian Child Welfare leadership has strengthened Tribal–State partnerships and enhanced ICWA practice in Oklahoma County.

2019 Recipient:

Honorable Judge Rodney Sparkman Tulsa County Juvenile Court

"He respectfully seeks input and recommendations on ICWA cases, ensuring that Tribes have a meaningful voice in his courtroom and collaborates closely to address Active Efforts at each hearing."

2021Recipient

Honorable Bob Hughey from Canadian County Juvenile Court

Judge Hughey’s commitment to fostering Tribal participation in his courtroom and his flexibility in supporting families during the COVID-19 pandemic as key reasons for his nomination. His efforts to ensure foster care and adoptive placements complied with ICWA, his attentiveness to Tribal recommendations and requests, and his encouragement of collaboration between OKDHS, biological families, and Tribal Nations is highly valued.

2023 Recipient:

Honorable Judge Jennifer Brock

Kay County Juvenile Court

Judge Brock is recognized for her exceptional partnership and collaboration with the Pawnee Area Tribal Child Protection Team. Her visionary leadership has set a new standard across the state by helping establish a dedicated ICWA Unit and implementing a specialized docket for Indian Child Welfare (ICWA) cases. Judge Brock’s commitment to meaningful Tribal engagement and equitable application of ICWA exemplifies what true collaboration looks like. If every courtroom in Oklahoma had a Judge Jennifer Brock, the integrity of ICWA implementation and the strength of Tribal–State relationships would be unparalleled.