Justice Potter Stewart Awards
CCE's annual award that recognizes individuals and organizations whose work has
made a significant contribution to the law, the legal system, the courts, or the
administration of justice in our nation's capital.
Nominations for 2025 are now closed.
Thanks to all who submitted.
About the Award
The Justice Potter Stewart Award, named to honor the memory and public service of the late Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, was established in 1997 by the Council for Court Excellence.
The Award recognizes individuals and organizations whose work on behalf of the administration of justice has made a significant contribution to the law, the legal system, the courts, or the administrative process in our nation's capital.
Justice Potter Stewart served as a member of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1958 to 1981. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Justice Stewart was educated at Yale University, and received his law degree from Yale Law School in 1941. Prior to his service on the high court, Justice Stewart served on the 6th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals, as a litigator in private law practice, and for two terms he served as an elected member of the Cincinnati, Ohio City Council.
The Council for Court Excellence is indebted to Andy Stewart, the late Justice's widow, and a longstanding and spirited member of the Council's Board, for permission to create the Justice Potter Stewart Award.
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Support the upcoming Justice Potter Stewart Awards which recognize individuals and organizations whose work have made significant contributions to the law, the legal system, the courts, or the administrative process in our nation's capital.
Past JPS Honorees
- 2024 - Janene D. Jackson (Holland & Knight), Prof. Wallace J. Mlyniec (Georgetown Law), and Judith Sandalow (Children's Law Center)
- 2023 - Avis E. Buchanan (Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, Retired), PROJECT CHANGE (DMV-area Hospital Based Violence Intervention Programs), and Hon. Karl A. Racine (Hogan Lovells)
- 2022 - Benjamin F. Wilson (Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.), The Jerry M. v. District of Columbia Legal Team (ACLU National Prison Project, D.C. Public Defender Service, Covington & Burling LLP)
- 2021 - Patty Mullahy Fugere (Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless), Kojo Nnamdi (The Kojo Nnamdi Show, WAMU/NPR), Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP and Wiley Rein LLP (D.C. Compassionate Release Project leaders)
- 2019 - Mark E. Herzog (Sidley Austin LLP). Pauline and Charlie Sullivan (CURE), Michele A. Roberts (National Basketball Players Association)
- 2018 - Dean Katherine S. Broderick (University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law), Karen Baker Marcou (DC Volunteer Lawyers Project), Patrick McGlone (Ullico Inc.)
- 2017 - Grace E. Speights (Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP), Joseph B. Tulman (University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law), and Lockheed Martin Corporation (Special 35th Anniversary Appreciation Award)
- 2016 - Sheldon Krantz (DC Affordable Law Firm), Tammy Seltzer (University Legal Services), and Thomas S. Williamson Jr. (Covington & Burling LLP)
- 2015 - Roger M. Adelman and Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop
- 2014 - Marc Fleischaker (Arent Fox, LLP), Legal Counsel for the Elderly, and Pepco
- 2013 - William J. Garber (solo law practice), Jessica T. Rosenbaum (District of Columbia Access to Justice Commission), and James J. Sandman (Legal Services Corporation)
- 2012 - James L. Lyons (Kellogg Williams & Lyons) and John C. Keeney, Jr. (Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia)
- 2011 - Peter Edelman (Georgetown Law and DC Access to Justice Commission), Donald Santarelli (Dinsmore & Shohl LLP), and posthumously to Mary Ann Luby (Legal Clinic for the Homeless)
- 2010 - Pauline Schneider (Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe) and Rainey Ransom Brandt (Special Counsel to the Chief Judge of the DC Superior Court)
- 2009 - Earl Silbert (DLA Piper (US)) and Commander Lillian Overton (DC Metropolitan Police Department)
- 2008 - John Payton (NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund) and Maureen Thornton Syracuse (DC Bar Pro Bono Program)
- 2007 - Roderick Boggs (Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs) and GEICO
- 2006 - Steven Pollak (Goodwin Procter) and Jonathan Smith (Legal Aid Society of DC)
- 2005 - Daniel Rezneck (Arnold & Porter (Ret.)), and Ann Keep (Visitors' Services Center)
- 2004 - Lloyd Cutler (Wilmer, Cutler and Pickering LLP), and Lydia Watts (Women Empowered Against Violence, WEAVE)
- 2003 - Willie Cook (Neighborhood Legal Services Program (Ret.)) and Alan Morrison (Public Citizen Litigation Group).
- 2002 - Herbert J. "Jack" Miller (Baker Botts) and Samuel F. Harahan (Council for Court Excellence (Ret.))
- 2001 - Judith L. Lichtman (National Partnership for Women and Families), Archdiocesan Legal Network of Catholic Charities, and posthumously to Charles F. C. Ruff
- 2000 - E. Barrett Prettyman, Jr. (Hogan and Hartson) and DC Superior Court's Drug Court Program
- 1999 - John H. Pickering (Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering) and Operation Crackdown
- 1998 - Jacob A. Stein (Stein, Mitchell and Mezines) and Dr. Cheryl Bailey (District of Columbia Courts)
- 1997 - Charles A. Horsky, and Charles McC. Mathias, the two Presidents Emeriti of the Council for Court Excellence.
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