The National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks presented the prestigious J.O. Sentell Award to Edward W. Hosken, Jr., Retired Chief Deputy Clerk of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, at its Annual Conference Luncheon on August 3, 2023, in Detroit, Michigan.

“I am humbled to receive the J.O. Sentell Award and hope to continue being active in this outstanding group so I can repay your collective kindness and generosity,” Ed said upon receiving the award.

A faithful and dedicated member of the National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks since 1997, Ed has distinguished himself and his court in exemplary service to the principles of the Conference. His service to the NCACC includes membership on the Membership Committee; the Program Committee, 1995-2005; the Executive Committee, 2000-2002; the Scholarship Committee and the Strategic Planning Committee. Even in retirement, Ed Hosken continues to serve on a number of committees. Every NCACC member who nominated Ed for the J.O. Sentell Award noted his dedication to the Conference.

Ed obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from St. Louis University in 1962 and his Juris Doctor degree from Wayne State University in 1965. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1966 until 1990 when he retired as a Captain in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. From 1990 until 1996 he was a counsel with the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (Ethics Committee) of the U.S. House of Representa-tives. In 1996-1997 he was the Assistant Inspector General for Investigations and Counsel to the Inspector General at the Federal Communications Commission. In July 1997 he became Chief Deputy for Administration. On October 1, 2005, he was detailed to establish a mediation program as the Circuit Mediation Officer. He retired on June 30, 2006. Ed and his wife, Daphne, have three children and four grandchildren.

The National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks was founded fifty years ago. One of its founding members was J.O. Sentell, Clerk of the Supreme Court of Alabama. He also served as its first president and because of his leadership and inspiration, in 1979, an award was established in his honor as the Conference’s most prestigious for a member. The J.O. Sentell Award is presented to those whose contributions and accomplishments have been an example for others to recognize and emulate. Ed epitomizes all those qualities we honor as appellate court clerks, and it is fitting that Ed’s outstanding contributions be recognized by this award.