LAS VEGAS — Three Nevada Supreme Court Justices were honored with awards at the 11th Annual Pro Bono Awards luncheon, sponsored by the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada.

Chief Justice Nancy Saitta received the Champion of Children Award while Justices Michael Douglas and James Hardesty were honored with the Justice Nancy Becker Pro Bono Award of Judicial Excellence.

The Champion of Children Award is given to a person in the legal community who has had extraordinary vision and has effectively implemented positive change for children in foster care so they have not only a voice in court, but a voice in their future.

“I was completely honored to receive such an important award,” said Chief Justice Saitta, who chairs the Supreme Court’s Court Improvement Program for the Protection and Permanency of Dependent Children, better known as the CIP Select Committee. A primary goal of CIP is to work for the improvement of children and families entering the child welfare system. CIP most recently has been assisted in forming Community Improvement Councils in each judicial district to identify ways to improve child welfare and dependency court operations.

The Justice Nancy Becker Pro Bono Award of Judicial Excellence is given to recognize members of the judiciary who have given their time, energy and influence to encourage pro bono work and access to justice.

The co-recipients of the Pro Bono Award of Judicial Excellence, Justices Hardesty and Douglas co-chair the Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission, which works to open the courthouse doors wider for those who come to the courts for assistance in resolving disputes.

“It is an honor to be mentioned at a ceremony recognizing all of the tremendous pro bono work performed by the lawyers in Clark County,” Justice Hardesty said. “They are the true heroes in the continuing effort to provide for the civil legal needs of so many in our community. I am proud to offer whatever assistance I can to the remarkable success of the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada and its pro bono project and I thank them for noting my involvement in the statewide goal to improve Access to Justice for all Nevadans.”

All seven Supreme Court justices participated as presenters during the Pro Bono Awards Luncheon on Dec. 2 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.