Alexandria, Va. - The American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) will present Bankruptcy Judge Alan S. Trust (ret.) of JAMS (Central Islip, N.Y.) with the Judge William L. Norton, Jr. Judicial Excellence Award during an ABI presentation at the 100th National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges annual meeting in San Diego, Calif. The Norton Award honors a retired or current bankruptcy judge who has been an outstanding educator, writer and scholar. The award is presented by ABI and Thomson Reuters in memory of the late William L. Norton, Jr. Past award-winners include Brendan Shannon, Kevin Huennekens, Tracey N. Wise,Michael G. Williamson, Randolph J. Haines,Mary F. Walrath, Eugene R. Wedoff (a past ABI President), A. Jay Cristol, Barbara J. Houser (a past ABI President), Barry Russell, William H. Brown, Robert D. Martin and Harlin D. Hale.

An ABI member since 2008, Judge Trust is a seasoned ADR professional who joined JAMS after serving for more than 18 years as a bankruptcy judge in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York. He joined the bankruptcy court in 2008. In 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit designated Judge Trust to sit in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut, in addition to his service in the E.D.N.Y. He served in Connecticut for nearly a year and became chief bankruptcy judge for the E.D.N.Y. in 2020. Judge Trust retired from the bench in April 2026 but was recalled into service by the Second Circuit until June 2026.

Judge Trust was certified as a mediator in Texas in 1989. He mediated many cases while in private practice and, beginning in 2008, served as a judge-mediator for his judicial colleagues on many occasions. In 2011, he was designated by the Second Circuit to mediate cases in the Southern District of New York, and in 2025, he was designated to mediate in the District of Connecticut. He was also instrumental in the creation of the E.D.N.Y. Bankruptcy Court Pro Bono Mediation Program.

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ABI is the largest multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan organization dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency. ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes nearly 10,000 attorneys, accountants, bankers, judges, professors, lenders, turnaround specialists and other bankruptcy professionals, providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information. For additional information on ABI, visit www.abiworld.org. For additional conference information, visit www.abi.org/events .