The Ohio Supreme Court recognized three employees on March 11 for their professionalism and outstanding service in 2013 during a courtroom ceremony attended by justices and staff. The annual awards are the highest honors given to Supreme Court staff.

Those honored include: Joseph Caligiuri, chief assistant disciplinary counsel in the Office of Disciplinary Counsel; Ian Palmer, a maintenance mechanic in the Office of Facilities Management; and John VanNorman, senior policy and research counsel in the Office of the Administrative Director.

The Supreme Court also recognized 39 additional employees with 5-year, 10-year, 15-year, 20-year, 25-year, and 30-year service awards.

Each year the Supreme Court honors exemplary employees who have distinguished themselves over the prior year in one of the three categories:

• Demonstrating superior achievement in the completion of a special project or assignment.
• Consistently displaying professional excellence in the performance of their regularly assigned duties.
• Displaying a positive attitude toward one’s work, fellow employees, and the constituencies of the Supreme Court.

An awards committee selected the honorees after reviewing nominations submitted by internal personnel and external colleagues.

Administrative Director Steven C. Hollon noted that of the previous 36 professional excellence award winners, 24 still work for the Supreme Court.

This is the 10th year for the employee recognition ceremony.