Information for this article was provided to e-Court Connections by the Communications Office for the Diocese of Manchester.

MANCHESTER , NH- Concord District Court Judge Gerard J. Boyle received the 2010 St. Thomas More Award from the Catholic Lawyers Guild in October.

    The St. Thomas More Award is given to a lawyer or judge who is a practicing Catholic and who embodies the spirit of St. Thomas More in his or her courage, dedication, integrity, civility, and compassion toward others. Judge Boyle is the fifth recipient of the award. Prior recipients are the late Honorable Martin F. Loughlin, Attorney Peter J. Loughlin, Attorney Peter McDonough, and Attorney Margaret-Ann Moran.

    Judge Boyle graduated from Arlington Catholic High School, Boston College, and Suffolk University Law School. Judge Boyle is a colonel in the United States Marine Corps who retired after 13 years of active duty and 18 years in the Marine Corps Reserve. Among other military awards, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by the President of the United States for his work during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, as well as the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal by the Secretary for the Navy. He has served as the Senior Military Aide de Camp to both Governor Shaheen and Governor Craig Benson. In 1999, he was awarded the Vickie M. Bunnell Award by the Bar Association for his exceptional community service.

    Judge Boyle has been involved in scouting since he joined the Cub Scouts more than 50 years ago, and he currently serves as the President of the Daniel Webster Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He has earned both the Parvuli Dei Award and the Ad Altare Dei Award, the Boy Scouts' highest awards for Catholic Scouts, and in 2007, he was awarded the Silver Beaver Award by the Daniel Webster Council, the council's highest award for volunteer service.

    In addition to his work with the Boy Scouts, he has volunteered in many other community organizations, including the Plymouth Pop Warner Football program, the Board of Directors of the New Hampshire Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services Foundation, and the Town of Plymouth's Search Committee and Selection Board for the Town Administrator and Fire Chief positions, and he was appointed by the governor to serve as the first chairman of the New Hampshire Commission on the Status of Men. He has also been very active in his parish, Holy Trinity Parish in Plymouth, where he has served as Eucharistic minister, lector, religious education instructor, finance committee member, and member of the pastoral council. He is a charter member and past Grand Knight of the Holy Family Council, Knights of Columbus.

    Judge Boyle and his wife Barbara have been married for 31 years and have three children: Bridgid, Brianna, and Sean.

    "Judge Boyle truly embodies all of the qualities and values of St. Thomas More, Patron Saint of Lawyers," said Attorney Charles Holoubek, President of the Catholic Lawyers Guild. "His commitment to the Catholic Church and his personal faith are matters in which he takes public pride. He has served his country and the state in numerous ways and has given selflessly of his time for the greater good of the community through his involvement in a number of charitable organizations. He demonstrates the very highest standards of integrity and adherence to the rule of law."