District Attorney Matt Ballard’s first assistant district attorney, Joy Thorp, received the Mitch Sperry Memorial Award for Outstanding Prosecutor in July.

Thorp received the prestigious recognition based on nominations from colleagues in the criminal justice system.

Thorp was nominated because: “Joy has persisted and endured in prosecuting difficult and onerous cases. She meets with countless victims, always upholding Marsy’s Law and the Victim’s Bill of Rights. She is the best of us.”

The award was first announced during an Oklahoma District Attorney Association (ODAA) meeting.