National Arbitration Forum Honors Excellence in Promoting Dispute Resolution and Civil Justice

Minneapolis, MN, December 07, 2007 --(PR.com)-- The National Arbitration Forum (FORUM) presented the organization’s inaugural “Civil Justice Award” to Honorable Harold Kalina, for whom the award was named, on December 1, 2007.

Upon presenting the award, Roger Haydock, Managing Director of the National Arbitration Forum stated “Judge Kalina has ennobled and improved dispute resolution and civil justice during his distinguished career as a District Court Judge, a Minnesota State Senator, practicing attorney, mediator, arbitrator, and all-around dispute resolution professional.”

Honorable Harold Kalina, a graduate of the University of Minnesota law school, began his career at Scholle, Schweiger & Kalina in Minneapolis where he practiced law from 1954 to 1972 and was a partner. He served as a Minnesota State Senator for four terms from 1955 to 1971 and as an Assistant Minority Leader for the Senate from 1971 to 1972.

In 1972 he began his term as Judge of the Hennepin County District Court, Fourth Judicial District, Minnesota. In 1981 Kalina became Chief Judge of the Fourth Judicial District. He was Partner at Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly in Minneapolis from 1983 to 1990. He then returned to the bench as a Fourth Judicial District Court Judge from 1990 to 1995.

In 1995 he began serving Minnesota courts as a retired judge and was approved by the Minnesota Supreme Court as an arbitrator and neutral mediator practicing in all alternative dispute resolution areas. In 2001 Kalina joined the National Arbitration Forum panel of arbitrators and mediators and began hearing and deciding cases over disputed domain names.

“Judge Kalina is a truly remarkable and sincere individual who has made a significant impact in the legal profession,” said National Arbitration Forum Managing Director Roger Haydock.

“Dignified jurists and neutrals like Kalina merit recognition for their knowledge, experience, skills and abiding commitment to providing access to justice to all Americans. The Honorable Harold Kalina Civil Justice Award program will shine the spotlight on recipients that inspire both developing and longstanding dispute resolution professionals around the nation.”

Honorable Harold Kalina lives in Minneapolis with his wife Elaine.

Criteria for the Award
Candidates for the Honorable Harold Kalina Civil Justice Award are evaluated for their excellence in promoting dispute resolution and civil justice.

The National Arbitration Forum
The National Arbitration Forum (FORUM), one of the world's largest alternative dispute resolution providers, administers arbitration and mediation services that are faster and less expensive than lawsuits. Disputes are heard and decided by members of the National Arbitration Forum panel of 1,600 arbitrators and mediators who are attorneys and former judges. Founded in 1986, the National Arbitration Forum is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. with offices in New Jersey and California and panelists in all 50 U.S. states and in 35 countries. For more information, visit www.adrforum.com.

For more information, contact Christina Doucet at media@adrforum.com or 952-516-6486.

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