Mark I. Harrison, 86, passed away on January 11, 2021. He was one of the country's most respected leaders in the field of legal and judicial ethics and professional liability -- a guiding light in the Arizona legal community.



Mark attended Antioch College and Harvard Law School. He and his wife, Ellen, moved to Arizona in 1960, where Mark clerked for Arizona Supreme Court Justice Lorna E. Lockwood. From there, he embarked on 60 years of law practice. He worked in several iterations of his own firm, including Harrison, Harper, Christian & Dichter before joining Bryan Cave, LLP in 1993. From 2004 until his passing, Mark was a partner at Osborn Maledon, P.A., where his practice focused primarily on legal ethics, lawyers' licensure, professional liability, judicial ethics and discipline, risk management, and writing "reply all" emails on a wide variety of topics.



Mark served in local, state and national bar associations, as well as countless civic and charitable organizations. He served as President of the State Bar of Arizona Board of Governors in 1975 and was again elected to the Board at the age of 85, 40 years later. His advocacy for civil and social justice included service as President of the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood in Arizona and as the first Chair of the Board of Directors of Teach For America Phoenix.



Mark chaired the ABA Commission to revise the Model Code of Judicial Conduct and Justice at Stake, a national non-profit organization dedicated to preserving fair and impartial courts. He helped countless lawyers and psychologists facing disciplinary proceedings. Seeing their humanity, he represented them with compassion and skill.

He taught legal ethics as an adjunct professor at both the University of Arizona and ASU Law Schools. Mark loved serving as a mentor to younger professionals, mindful that the experience, knowledge, and values he had acquired should be paid forward to the next generation.



Harrison received numerous state and national awards, including the ABA's Michael Franck Award for Professional Responsibility, the Burnham "Hod" Greeley Award for contributions to understanding the role of the judiciary, the State Bar's Walter E. Craig Lifetime Achievement Award, the Charles W. Kettlewell Legal Ethics Advisory Award, the Judge Learned Hand Award for Community Service, and the Planned Parenthood Peggy Goldwater Award.



Mark is survived by his wife Ellen, two daughters, two granddaughters, three step-grandchildren, three step-great-grandchildren and a vast group of family, friends and colleagues. Mark was buried at Mt. Sinai Cemetery on January 14, 2021. A celebration of Mark's life will be held later.



The family requests contributions be made in Mark's name to Planned Parenthood of Arizona, c/o Annet Ruiter, 4751 N. 15th St., Phoenix, AZ 85014, or to the University of Arizona Law College Association, directed to the Mark I. Harrison Scholarship 1201 E. Speedway Blvd., P.O. Box 210176, Tucson, AZ 85721 or to Hospice of the Valley 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014. (Source: Arizona Republic)