By MATT CHANDLER
Buffalo Law Journal

Buffalo civil-rights attorney David Jay will be among a half-dozen lawyers honored during the 2009 Bar Association of Erie County's annual dinner Wednesday at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo.

Jay, who has been practicing law since 1967, will receive the Lawyer of the Year Award at the event. The association reports that dozens of lawyers and judges submitted letters of support on his behalf to the awards committee.

The former BAEC director, whom president Giles Manias called "a fair and civil advocate of high principle" in his column in the May issue of the association Bulletin, appreciates the recognition by his peers.

"It's a singular honor," he said. "The people who have received it in the past, there are some incredible people. I'm nowhere near their stature, but it is a wonderful thing."

Jay, who follows Francis Carroll as BAEC Lawyer of the Year, said he "has a lot of fun" practicing law, even after 40-plus years.

"The beauty is, every day, something new happens," he said. "Every day, some court surprises you and it's a learning experience."

Also receiving awards at the dinner are Dan Lukasik, managing partner of Cantor Lukasik Dolce Panepinto PC, who will receive the Special Service Award for his much-publicized work on behalf of lawyers suffering with depression.

"I am just really honored by the award. I think it really is a recognition of a problem in our profession and a solution," he said.

Lukasik, who continues to write about his battle with depression, recently began a blog on the topic - lawyerswithdepression.wordpress.com - and is writing a book for the American Bar Association on the subject, to be published next summer. He said he is speaking out for a greater good.

"I think we have seen, on a national level, more articles in lawyer publications on the issue of depression," he said. "I think as you see more and more of these, it will destigmatize the illness, but the real mission is to see people privately seek out counseling and medication and get the help they need so they can get healthy, be well and be productive, successful lawyers."

New York State Supreme Court Justice Hon. Joseph Mintz, who will receive the Outstanding Jurist Award, called it a "wonderful and priceless honor" to be recognized by the association.

"I don't know of any higher honor there is than to be recognized by your peers," Mintz said. "Years ago, I received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the UB Law School, and this certainly ranks equally with that. I'm very proud of this award."

The BAEC will also highlight civility and integrity within the profession by recognizing two of its members, Richard Blewett and Joseph Mistrett, a former assistant U.S. attorney and federal public defender, with the Charles H. Dougherty Civility Award.

Blewett, who has been with Cohen & Lombardo PC for 58 years, said he learned the core values the award is built around from those who trained him. He remembers the Dougherty award's namesake as someone who was a good lawyer and treated people well.

"We don't have to be uncivil or disrespectful to each other just because we are opponents," Blewett said. "That's the nature of our business, but we can represent our clients well, without turning ugly."

Robert Elardo, managing attorney of the ECBA Volunteer Lawyers Project Inc., will receive an Award of Merit at the dinner, at which 50- and 25-year BAEC members will also be recognized.