The Norby

The Norby Award was first presented in 1987 and is named after Judge Norbert Ehrenfreund. Each year the family law bench selects a recipient who has demonstrated outstanding and unselfish service to the family law bench and bar.

Judge Ehrenfreund had a vast and far-reaching impact on the legal profession and in particular family law. Judge Ehrenfreund’s background was as a criminal law attorney, having worked at the District Attorney’s office and thereafter establishing Defenders, Inc. where he defended indigent litigants. His reputation as an outstanding attorney led to his appointment to the bench by Governor Jerry Brown in 1975.

While on the bench, Judge Ehrenfreund pioneered the path for new drug rehabilitation programs in San Diego. Early in his judicial career he was assigned to the lone family law department. It was Judge Ehrenfreund who saw the need to involve counselors in contested custody matters and chose to bring an independent child counselor into his court room, leading to the creation of Family Court Services, an approach now used statewide. Judge Ehrenfreund spearheaded changes in the law for restraining orders to protect battered women and ultimately expanded its protection for all victims of domestic violence.

In recognition of his impact on the legal community, Judge Ehrenfreund was the recipient of countless awards. Because of his impact on the family law community, by unanimous vote it was decided that the award of the highest honor would be named after Judge Ehrenfreund – “The Norby”.