JAMS neutral Hon. Sheila Sonenshine ’67 (Ret.) was recently honored with the 2025 Torch of Liberty Award by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The award was presented at the ADL’s Marcus M. Kaufman Jurisprudence Award Dinner on Sept. 29. The Torch of Liberty Award – one of the ADL’s most prestigious honors – is presented to individuals who have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to justice, equality and civil rights.

“Justice Sonenshine has spent decades breaking barriers, mentoring others, and resolving disputes with integrity and compassion,” said Kimberly Taylor, CEO and president. “This award is a testament to both her professional achievements and the values she has championed throughout her life. Justice Sonenshine is an inspiration and we congratulate her on this well-deserved achievement.”

The Torch of Liberty Award – one of the ADL’s most prestigious honors – is presented to individuals who have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to justice, equality and civil rights. Presented at regional events across the country, the award celebrates leaders in business, philanthropy, law, public service and community activism whose values align with the ADL’s mission to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and secure justice and fair treatment for all.

Sonenshine joined JAMS after a distinguished judicial career on the Orange County Superior Court, where she served as Presiding Judge of the Family Law Panel and the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three, where she authored numerous significant opinions and launched the state’s first mandatory appellate settlement conference program.

For more than a decade as a neutral at JAMS, Justice Sonenshine has served as a mediator, arbitrator, judge pro tem, neutral evaluator and mock trial panelist across a wide range of complex disputes, including business, family law, employment, real estate, probate and professional malpractice. Known for her pragmatic, even-tempered approach and deep judicial experience, she is widely respected for resolving challenging and high-profile cases with fairness, insight, and efficiency.