Clinical Professors Conyers and Stone Receive Kathryn Smith Matkov Award
The Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association last week honored Clinical Professors Herschella Conyers and Randolph Stone, the directors of the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Clinic, with the Kathryn Smith Matkov Award, which is presented annually to an attorney or judge who has demonstrated a commitment to excellence and accuracy in defining, illuminating, and informing the public on critical issues to American society, particularly in the areas of children, the aged, and minorities.
“Herschella and Randolph are two of our longest-serving clinicians, and both have demonstrated a deep devotion to issues of juvenile justice,” said Dean Thomas J. Miles, the Clifton R. Musser Professor of Law and Economics. “We are so proud of them, both for this award and for the important work that they do every day.”
Added Clinical Professor Jeff Leslie, the Law School’s Director of Clinical and Experiential Learning: “This is a wonderful honor, and a well-deserved recognition of the hard work and excellent lawyering and advocacy exhibited by Randolph and Herschella over the years in the Clinic.”
The Criminal and Juvenile Justice Clinic, which is part of the Law School’s Mandel Legal Aid Clinic, provides legal representation to poor children and young adults accused of delinquency and crime. It is a national leader in expanding the concept of legal representation to include the social, psychological, and educational needs of clients.
Stone was the Director of the Mandel Clinic from 1991 to 2001 and, between 1988 and 1991, he served as the Public Defender of Cook County. Conyers, who served as an assistant public defender under Stone and later became a deputy chief in Public Defender’s Office, joined the Law School’s clinical faculty in 1993.
Law School alumna Kathryn Smith Matkov, ’79, served as president of the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, but died from cancer at a young age shortly after completing her tenure. The annual award was established in recognition of her "commitment to improving conditions for children, the aged, and minorities," according to the Chicago Chapter.
The award was presented to Stone and Conyers by the Chapter’s president, Judge Matthew Kennelly, at the Chapter’s holiday party on December 8. Past awardees include Geoffrey R. Stone, the Edward H. Levi Distinguished Service Professor of Law, who received the Kathryn Smith Matkov Award in 2010.