George A. Googasian Martin M. Doctoroff

The State Bar of Michigan's Representative Assembly honored State Bar Past President George A. Googasian and State Bar Commissioner Hon. Martin M. Doctoroff with 1999 Michael Franck Award.

The Awards were presented to Doctoroff of Southfield and Googasian of Bloomfield Hills at a Representative Assembly reception held during the Bar's 64th Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids.

The Michael Franck Award, named after former State Bar Executive Director Michael Franck, was first presented by the Assembly in 1998. It honors members of the State Bar who have made a significant contribution to the legal profession. Nominations for the Award may be made on an individual lifetime contribution or for a specific project.

Bingham Farms attorney and newly elected Representative Assembly clerk Julie I. Fershtman nominated Judge Doctoroff.

Fershtman described Judge Doctoroff as being "one of the most dedicated, talented, intelligent, accomplished and effective leaders in the Bar today."

Judge Doctoroff was first elected to the State Bar's Board of Commissioners in 1990 and served as the Board's Secretary in 1993.

He was appointed to the court of Appeals by Governor James Blanchard in 1987 and was re-elected in 1988 and 1992. In 1994, he was appointed to a second two-year term as Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals followed by a one-year appointment in 1995 as Chief Judge.

Judge Doctoroff received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and his juris doctor degree from the University of Michigan Law School. Much of his career has involved private practice specializing in matrimonial law, in which he was inducted into the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Googasian was nominated by Kim Cahill, a Center Line attorney and newly elected Representative Assembly chairperson.

Cahill said she was most impressed by, "George's willingness to take on sensitive tasks on behalf of the State Bar." She also described Googasian as being "an outstanding member of the profession."

Cahill praised Googasian's work on the State Bar's "Law School for Legislators" and also on the great amount of time he spent on the Bar's Structure and Governance Committee.

Googasian served as State Bar president from 1992-1993. He has also served as president of the Oakland County Bar Association and the Oakland Bar Adams Pratt Foundation and vice president of the American Inns of Court.

He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and his juris doctor degree from Northwestern University School of Law. After beginning his career as an Assistant United States attorney, Googasian turned to private practice, where he specializes in personal injury litigation.