ADI is delighted to announce that the San Diego County Bar Association’s board of directors has bestowed on Ernie Palacio the Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award.  The award recognizes outstanding service by a person who is not a lawyer or a judge, whose contributions over a period of time have had a significant favorable impact on some facet of the legal system.  It will be presented at the bar association’s Law Day luncheon on Friday, May 4. 

The award is hugely deserved.  Ernie was with ADI for 23 years, overseeing our entire case administration.  He died last December at the age of 45.  He was a key player in the development of the entire project-panel system of indigent representation on appeal in California.  More information about Ernie and his contributions is in the nomination of him for the award.

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ADI announces with great sorrow the loss of Ernie Palacio.  He died December 4, 2006 at the age of 45. 

He had been "Mr. ADI" for many years.  He started as a volunteer paralegal student in 1983 but soon earned a management job as the Legal Administrator because of his extraordinary talents and energy. He helped create the statewide panel system from scratch, changing ADI from a small-scale pilot project to a smoothly running, professional organization that has handled tens of thousands of cases and countless documents. When Ernie joined us, we kept all records by hand. He was instrumental in creating the computerized billing and case management system that has served us faithfully for 15 years.  He supervised the paralegal staff, handled claims and case management, and provided wise leadership and counsel at every juncture.  

Most importantly, Ernie was a splendid person, with many wonderful gifts of mind and character - a real friend who could be counted on.  He was always there for us, literally day and night, looking out for things that needed to be done and doing them without fanfare or credit. 

We at ADI have always thought of Ernie as a brother, not just a colleague.  We grieve for him as a member of our personal family.

Letters and cards of condolence for the family can be sent to ADI.  The family requests donations to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in lieu of flowers.

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