TALLAHASSEE—The Florida Bar Standing Committee on Professionalism has selected Florida State University clinical law Professor Ruth Stone as the winner of its 2004 Faculty Award for Professionalism. 

Each year, the award recognizes one faculty member from Florida’s accredited law schools who—through teaching, scholarship and service—best exemplifies the mission of the Commission on Professionalism to promote the fundamental ideals and values of professionalism within the legal system and to instill those ideals of character, competence and commitment in their students. 

Stone was nominated for the award by Don Weidner, dean of the Florida State University College of Law. Nominations were made by deans of each of Florida’s eight accredited law schools. 

“It is a tribute to Ruth and to our law school that she has won this prestigious award,” Weidner said in announcing the honor to the faculty and students. “Since arriving at Florida State University, she has made enormous contributions to advancing the cause of professionalism.” 

“Your unanimous selection by the subcommittee is a tribute to your scholarly lectures and publications, and the success you have had with students and programs at Florida State University College of Law,” said Katherine Silverglate, chair of the Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Professionalism, in her letter to Stone. “Your efforts in promoting professionalism in the State of Florida and at the Florida State University College of Law are to be applauded.” 

Stone said, “It is a privilege and an honor to be working at the College of Law, where I graduated, and to receive this award from my peers. My children, lawyers and judges in this community, my students, and the administration and staff at the law school challenge me on a daily basis to be a better parent, lawyer, teacher, and co-worker. To me, professionalism is aspiring to meet those expectations.” 

A member of the clinical faculty since 1995, Stone teaches and is a supervising attorney in the Children’s Advocacy Center and is a faculty advisor for the Mock Trial Team. She has practiced with Legal Services in Alabama and Florida, has served as an assistant state attorney in the juvenile division of the State Attorney’s Office, and was the managing attorney for the Gadsden Region of Legal Services Corporation of Alabama. She graduated with honors from Florida State University College of Law in 1976. 

This is the second time since the award was created in 1999 that a Florida State University College professor has won. In 2002, Rob Atkinson, the Ruden, McClosky, Smith, Schuster & Russell Professor of Law, was honored. 

The award will be presented on June 24 in Boca Raton at the Judicial Luncheon that will be held in conjunction with The Florida Bar’s Annual Meeting.