PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BALTIMORE -- March 2003 Jervis S. Finney, formerly Counsel to Baltimore law firm Ober|Kaler and currently Chief Counsel & Criminal Justice Advisor to Governor Rt L. Ehrlich, Jr., has been named recipient of the Maryland Bar Foundation's Professional Legal Excellence Award for the Advancement of Public Service Responsibility. The Eleventh Annual Awards reception will be held on March 25 at the State House. Governor and Mrs. Ehrlich will be among the guests witnessing the presentation.

Prior recipients of the Professional Legal Excellence Award are Steve VanGrack, Hon.Stephen Derby, Lawrence Shulman, Hon.Rt M.Bell, Woody Preston, Isiah Leggett, Herb Garten, Charles O. Fisher, Sr., Herb Belgrad, and Hon. Ernest Loveless.

Maryland Bar Foundation
The Maryland Bar Foundation is a non-profit charitable corporation organized in 1965, with the objective of obtaining gifts and contributions to foster and maintain the honor and integrity of the profession of the law; improve and facilitate the administration of justice; and promote the study of law and research, the diffusion of knowledge, and the continuing education of lawyers.

Each year the Foundation recognizes and rewards members of the profession whose character and conduct bespeak the highest commitment to fostering and maintaining the honor and integrity of the profession of the law. By calling attention to the examples set by extraordinary individuals such as these, the entire professional community might be inspired to emulate them.

Jervis S. Finney
One of the most respected lawyers in Maryland, Jervis Finney has devoted his professional life to raising the ethical standards of the legal profession and improving the administration of justice. He is a former Baltimore County Councilman (1962-1966) and Maryland State Senator (1967-1974). In 1975, then-President Gerald Ford appointed Mr. Finney U.S. Attorney for Maryland.

A member of the Maryland State Ethics Commission (1979-1983) and the Ethics Law Code Revision Committee (1993-1994), Mr. Finney was selected as Special Independent Counsel to the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee (1998) to help resolve the allegations against then-state senator Larry Young.

Mr. Finney was a member of Ober|Kaler from 1958 to 2003. He left the firm in January to serve on Governor Rt Ehrlich’s team as Chief Counsel and Criminal Justice Advisor.