(Albany, NY)- State Senator John J. Bonacic (R/C/I-Mt. Hope) was presented with the “Champion of Justice” award by the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA) at a reception last evening in Albany. Senator Bonacic has served as the Chairman of the Senate’s Judiciary Committee for the past eight years and has worked with NYSTLA on different pieces of legislation and initiatives in that time. The mission of the New York State Trial Lawyers is "to promote a safer and healthier society, to assure access to the civil justice system by those who are wrongfully injured and to advance representation of the public by ethical, well-trained lawyers." For more information on NYSTLA visit, www.nystla.org.