The John Marshall Law School awarded scholarships and prizes at the June commencement ceremonies.

Ted Field, who ranked first in the graduating class, was awarded the Arba N. Waterman Scholarship for earning the highest rank in his second year; the Edward T. Lee Scholarship for the highest rank in his third year; the Graduate School Scholarship for having the highest rank for the entire course in the day division; the Lexis Nexis Prize for the highest standing in the studies of the senior year; and the West Publishing Company Prize for scholarly attainment in the first year in the day division.

Donald L. Zuhn Jr. received the John N. Jewitt Scholarship for the highest rank in the first year; the Graduate School Scholarship for the highest rank in the entire course in the evening division; and the West Publishing Company Prize for scholarly attainment in the first year in the evening division.

James R. Dougherty received the Dean's Prize as the senior law student who made the greatest progress from the first semester, first year to the last semester, last year.

Sarah K. Lindley-Galvin and Karl Maersch both received the Ambassador of the Year Award for dedicated service to the Admission Office and to the school. They conducted tours for applicants, assisted in open houses and served as ambassadors to first-year students.

Lindley-Galvin, David W. French and Anne B. Ryan received the Francis D and Corinne S. Morrissey Award in professional responsibility.

Ted Field

Donald L. Zuhn Jr.

Sarah K. Lindley-Galvin and Karl Maersch

David W. French

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Lance Northcutt has been named the Kissane Award recipient from the June 2002 graduating class at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago.

Northcutt accepted the award from Paul Kissane, son of John Marshall alumnus Elmer Kissane for whom the award is named. Upon his death, friends and family created the award to honor John Marshall in recognition of Kissane's 43 years with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. The Kissane Award recipient, who has a distinguished law school career and is committed to a career with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, receives the monetary award after completing a year with the state's attorney's office.

Northcutt will be working as an assistant state's attorney for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. Since January, he has tried several felony cases using his 7-11 license under supervision of Cook County assistant state's attorneys in the Felony Trial Division, and externed during 2001 using his 7-11 license at the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office, handling bench trials and summary suspension hearings.

Northcutt's interest in the law was piqued at a young age when his uncle, a veteran Chicago police detective, took him to watch a trial. Later, a friend's murder brought the desire to become a prosecutor to the forefront. He worked for the Western Springs Police Department and then as a detention officer for the Naperville Police Department, which gave him more opportunities to watch trials.

"In my heart, I have no doubt as to why I've pursued public service. There is no

amount of money or level of prestige that can replace the feeling one gets when justice has truly been served. To even be a small part of that process is a privilege that very few people will ever have," Northcutt said.

At John Marshall, Northcutt was a member of The John Marshall Law Review, editor-in-chief of The John Marshall Law School Casenotes and Comments on Professional Responsibility, a member of the law school's Mock Trial program competing as a semi-finalist in the 2002 American Trial Lawyers of American Mock Trial Competition, and semi-finalist in the 2001 National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys Mock Trial Competition. He also was a regional finalist for the 2001 ATLA Mock Trial Competition. Northcutt also is a past editor of the school newspaper "Decisive Utterance."

This is not the first award for Northcutt. He received the Fred F. Herzog Scholarship for academic excellence, and the Louis Biro Academic Scholarship.

After high school, Northcutt studied aerospace science with the U.S. Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. He received an associate's degree in criminal justice from College of DuPage and a bachelor's degree in political science from North Central College.

Northcutt has also pursued his musical interests by playing Irish music with the band Salthill Mines. The group released its first CD in March 2002.

Paul Kissane (left) congratulates June 2002 graduate Lance Northcutt (right) upon his receiving the Kissane Award named for Kissane's father, alumnus Elmer Kissane. Northcutt, who has been hired by the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, will receive the $5,000 award after a year's service.

Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Ann McMorrow has agreed to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees of The John Marshall Law School in Chicago.

Justice McMorrow will serve a three-year term on the 22-member board.

"We are delighted to have Justice McMorrow agree to serve the students, faculty, staff and legal community through a position on the Board of Trustees," said Alfred E. Gallo, president of the board. "She is highly respected by both attorneys and legal scholars. Her insights and expertise will be most welcomed."

One of Justice McMorrow's immediate tasks will be assisting faculty and administrators in the selection of a new dean for the 103-year-old law school. Dean Robert Gilbert Johnston has announced his retirement, and a committee has begun a search process. A new dean is expected to step into the position in June 2003.

Serving on the board will be yet another way the justice continues to work with the legal community. She has

chaired the Illinois Court Commission and been a member of the board of directors of the Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois. She also is past president of the Women's Bar Association of Illinois.

Justice McMorrow has served on the Illinois Supreme Court since 1992, and was elevated to Chief Justice in May 2002. She will be the first woman to serve as chief justice. It is another in a long line of firsts for Justice McMorrow who was the only woman in her 1953 class at Loyola University School of Law, and the first woman to prosecute major felony cases for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.

Justice McMorrow helped pave the way for women in the legal profession. Today John Marshall's female enrollment is 50 percent.

Justice McMorrow was first elected a judge in 1976 to the Cook County Circuit Court, and in 1985 was appointed to the Illinois Appellate Court, and then elected to a seat in 1986.

She was elected to the Illinois Supreme Court in 1992. She is serving on the court with two John Marshall alumni - Justice Thomas Fitzgerald and Justice Charles Freeman.

Three Join Student Services Office Staff

The John Marshall Law School staff welcomes three new members who will work directly with students through positions in the Admission and Financial Aid offices.

Tonishea Terry and Annette Hoerath will serve as assistant directors of the Office of Admission. The pair is splitting the workload with Terry handling scholarships, interviews on campus, open houses and on-campus programs, and Hoerath responsible for campus visits and law fairs.

Christie Urban, who worked as a fill-in receptionist when the Admission Office was short staffed, has been hired full-time to serve as the receptionist for Financial Aid. She now is sharing space on the first floor, but will have her own work area when Financial Aid moves to its new space on the 2nd floor behind the bookstore.

Terry gained expertise in admissions working as assistant director of admissions and financial aid at the Illinois Institute of Technology, and at Triton Community College where she was responsible for admissions and marketing.

A resident of Chicago's Beverly neighborhood, Terry is a graduate of Morgan Park High School, and received a bachelor's degree in political science at the University of Illinois, and a master's degree in public administration at IIT.

Hoerath is a June 2001 John Marshall alumnus, and received her bachelor's degree from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. She is originally from Columbus, Ohio.

Hoerath said she was anxious to take the Admission position because of her positive experiences at John Marshall. "I love John Marshall and I really enjoy people contact," she said.

During her years as a student, Hoerath was a member of the Woman's Law Caucus, Moot Court, and Phi Alpha Delta. After graduating, she clerked at the law offices of Alan D. Hoffenberg, a

Tonishea Terry

Annette Hoerath

Christie Urban

domestic relations practice.

Urban has a bachelor's degree in interior design from Michigan State University, but a downturn in the economy landed her employment with a temporary agency, which placed her at John Marshall. She spent six months at the front desk addressing inquiries.