"All Judge Nelson expects from the participants is that they try as hard as they can to stay clean and sober," said Paula Hovden, Nelson's judicial assistant, who presented him with the honor at the graduation ceremony. "You may see Judge Nelson shake his head once in a while, but he tries to understand when someone may have relapsed."

Since its inception in 2001, the court program tailored for those charged with drug-related offenses has honored a total of 49 graduates. After remaining drug-free for one year, participants graduate and the charges against them are dropped.

"It's a teamwork process," said Nelson of the court's collaboration with the Community Corrections Department, treatment providers, the District Attorney's office, police and county commissioners. Participants undergo substance abuse treatment, close supervision, drug tests, sanctions for drug use or failure to cooperate, and weekly appearances in court.

Nelson awarded graduate Jasion Leiber with the Steady Eddy award for completing the program without a single violation. Leiber is now working as facilities director for Thugz off Drugz, a recovery organization involved with the drug court.

"I tried by myself to get clean and sober, but it never worked," Leiber said. Of his new life, he said, "You get to feel. You're not numbing stuff out."