Alan Sternberg, former Chief Judge of the Colorado Court of Appeals, received the William Lee Knous Award from the University of Colorado School of Law on Sept. 26.
The Knous Award is the Law School聮s highest honor and is given each year to a CU-Boulder alumnus in recognition of outstanding achievement and service. Sternberg was recognized for his many years of dedicated service to the legal community and to the state.
William Lee Knous was the only person to ever reach the highest position in the three branches of state government. He was president of the Senate, chief justice of the Colorado Supreme Court and governor. President Harry Truman later appointed him to the federal bench.
Prior to attending college, Sternberg served in World War II, earning both the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart for superior service in combat.
He earned his bachelor聮s degree from Northeastern University in Boston in 1948 and his L.L.B. from CU-Boulder聮s School of Law in 1950.
Sternberg began his career in law as a City Attorney in Littleton and then became an attorney for the Littleton Urban Renewal Authority. He later was appointed to the Colorado Court of Appeals in 1974 and promoted to Chief Judge in 1990.
In addition to serving as a judge, Sternberg has lent his services to several law organizations. He has served as president of the Arapahoe County Bar Association, vice chair of the Supreme Court Grievance Committee, and is on the Board of Governors and Executive Committee of the Colorado Bar Association.