A Lincoln County judge will be recognized later this year fordemonstrating “judicial excellence” on the bench.

Ed Patten, chancellor for the 15th Chancery Court District ofLincoln and Copiah counties, is a recipient of the Mississippi BarAssociation’s 2010 Judicial Excellence Award. He was selected alongwith Margaret Alfonso, chancellor for the Eighth Chancery Districton the coast.

“I was surprised, extremely happy and honored,” Patten said.

In a letter to Patten, MBA Executive Director Larry Houchinssaid the award is presented to a judge who has “exceeded the callof the judicial office and is an example of judicial excellence; aleader in advancing the quality and efficiency of justice, and aperson of high ideas, character and integrity.”

The award will be presented to Patten at MBA’s annual meeting inJuly.

In advance of that meeting, the Lincoln and Copiah county barassociations hosted a reception Monday in Hazlehurst to recognizePatten. State Supreme Court Judge Jim Kitchens and formerChancellor Donald Patterson, Patten’s predecessor in the area courtbench, spoke and Patten said that made the event very special.