The Massachusetts Bar Association presented Boston
Globe courts reporter Milton J. Valencia with the Excellence
in Legal Journalism Award at the April 27 Excellence in the Law
event, presented by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.
The MBA-sponsored award is bestowed annually on reporters whose
coverage of the legal system in Massachusetts best reflects the
commitment to truth and justice shared by both the bar and the
press.
"The critical work of our courts only exists for many through
the words of reporters, and there are few who are better at
demystifying our criminal justice system than Milton Valencia, who
has probably spent more time in a courtroom than most lawyers,"
said MBA Chief Legal Counsel and Chief Operating Officer Martin W.
Healy. "Whether covering major federal prosecutions, emerging
issues in our state courts or our immigration system, Milton has
illuminated some of the most widely followed legal stories in
recent years through his knowledgeable, unbiased and clear
reporting for the Globe. The MBA is proud to recognize
Milton for excellence in his profession."
A Boston Globe reporter since 2007, Valencia has been
at the federal court beat since 2011, where he has covered some of
the state's most high-profile cases, including the trials of former
House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, James "Whitey" Bulger and the
death-
penalty trial of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
He has observed live oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court
in Washington, DC, and the Supreme Judicial Court in Boston. He has
also worked on some of the most concerning legal and criminal
justice issues affecting our state.
Valencia was part of the Globe staff team that won a
Pulitzer for its coverage of the Marathon bombing. He also
co-authored a three-part series on the secrecy of the immigration
system that was named a finalist for national awards given by the
Investigative Reporters & Editors and Harvard's Nieman
Foundation.
Before covering the courts, Milton was a general assignment
reporter for the Globe. He also worked for the
Telegram & Gazette in Worcester, the
Herald-News in Fall River, and The Times of
Pawtucket, Rhode Island, where he first ventured into covering the
courts in the trial of former Providence Mayor Vincent "Buddy"
Cianci. A native of Fall River, Valencia attended the University of
Massachusetts system. He now lives in Canton.