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Three Northwestern Law Faculty Members Awarded

October 30, 2000

Steve Drizin was honored for "outstanding dedication and advocacy in the juvenile justice field" Oct. 28 at the National Juvenile Defender Summit in Houston. 200 lawyers who represent children in juvenile courts around the country attended the Juvenile Defender Summit, sponsored by the American Bar Association.

Drizin, who supervises second and third year law students in representing children and families in child welfare, juvenile justice, and immigration/political asylum proceedings, has been tireless and effective in his criticism of legislation that requires automatic transfer of children to adult court for criminal prosecution. He has also led a national campaign designed to publicize the positive accomplishments of juvenile courts.

Cynthia Bowman was among the recipients of the Women with Vision Awards Thursday, Oct. 26, during the 59th annual joint professional dinner of the Women's Bar Association of Illinois. Bowman and her co-authors, Morrison Torrey and Mary Becker of DePaul University College of Law, received academic category awards for writing Feminist Jurisprudence: Taking Women Seriously, a groundbreaking casebook in feminist jurisprudence.

Rita A. Fry, class of '79 and Northwestern adjunct faculty member, will be honored by the Public Interest Law Initiative for distinguished public service at a Dec. 7 luncheon. US District Judge Ruben Castillo, class of '79 and adjunct to Introduction to Trial Advocacy at Northwestern, will give the opening remarks.

Fry was recently appointed vice chair of the Governor's Commission to Rewrite the Criminal Code and is serving her second six-year term as the head of Cook County Public Defender's Office. She is also an adjunct to Introduction to Trial Advocacy in the Bluhm Legal Clinic at Northwestern. Her picture hangs on the Alumni Wall of Fame as part of a special exhibit titled "Women of Distinction," and she has received many other humanitarian and leadership awards.

The Public Interest Law Initiative is a nonprofit organization that offers Internships and Fellowships for law students and new graduates who want to work at public interest law agencies in Chicago. The organization also inspires and promotes pro bono work by members of the bar.

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