⭐ The Golden Quill Award

The Golden Quill Award is presented annually at the statewide CASCI Conference to honor a member whose notable contributions, exceptional service, and extraordinary efforts have furthered the goals of CASCI and strengthened the work of Court Investigators across California.

This recognition celebrates individuals who embody professionalism, dedication, innovation, and service to the Probate Court Investigation community.

Criteria

Nominee Eligibility:

– The nominee must be a current member of CASCI in good standing.

– The nominee should have contributed to advancing the mission of CASCI, either in the past year or over an extended period.

Nomination Guidelines:

– Each CASCI member may submit only one nomination.

Selection Process:

– The CASCI Executive Board reviews all nominations, verifies their contribution, and selects this year’s recipient.

Please use the form below to nominate a candidate.

⭐ History of the Golden Quill

The award was first presented in 1978 to John McCarthy of Merced County, a Court Investigator and Traffic Court Referee known for his creativity, distinctive writing style, and sense of humor—especially in his courtesy (reciprocal) reports.

When he received the first Golden Quill, Mr. McCarthy wrote a now-legendary letter to President Dennis Jones:

“It is with pulsating heart and soaring spirit that I humbly acknowledge and accept the honor afforded me in conjunction with your gracious presentation of the Golden Quill Award… My joy was somewhat dampened when, in a burst of enthusiasm and pride, I showed the award to my judge and he grumped, ‘I always knew you were full of BS, but this is ludicrous.’

…The award has precipitated much merriment and I vow to attend any subsequent meeting, if only to protect my position.”

This humorous and heartfelt note has become part of CASCI’s history and continues to reflect the spirit of camaraderie and community that the Golden Quill represents.

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⭐ Past Recipients of the Golden Quill Award

Presented at the annual statewide CASCI Conference

Below is the full historical record of Golden Quill recipients, conference locations, and Board Presidents.

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⭐ Golden Quill Award Recipients (1978–2025)

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