Council for Court Excellence Honors Susan Hoffman with Justice Potter Stewart Award

Washington – May 15, 2025: The Council for Court Excellence recognized Susan Hoffman, Crowell & Moring senior public service counsel, with the Justice Potter Stewart Award in recognition of her legal career dedicated to pro bono efforts.

Named after the late Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, the annual award “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.”

Hoffman became the nation’s first pro bono counsel in 1988 when she joined Crowell in that role and the first full-time pro bono partner in 2000. In her time at the firm, she has developed and led the firm's award-winning pro bono program in each of its seven U.S. offices. As the firm has grown, the pro bono team has expanded to include key members public service partner Tiana Russell, specialist Ginna Martin and administrator, Anita Stephen. In addition, Hoffman has herself represented many clients in domestic violence, adoption, and child custody cases.

Hoffman served as D.C. Bar president between 2019-2020 and she served two previous terms on the Bar Board of Governors, as president of the D.C. Bar Foundation, and Washington Council of Lawyers and as co-chair of the D.C. Circuit Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services. She is a commissioner on the D.C. Access to Justice Commission and serves on the boards of the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless and Washington Council of Lawyers. Hoffman has often directed efforts to empowering domestic violence survivors, volunteering as a hotline volunteer and on the board of My Sisters Place, representing women seeking protection orders, and serving as founding board chair of the Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Advocacy Project. 

“For over 36 years, Susie has showed Crowell and the D.C. Bar community what leadership looks like, what pursuit of equal justice looks like, what defense of the Rule of Law looks like, and what pro bono service looks like,” said Philip Inglima, chair of Crowell & Moring, in remarks at the award presentation on Tuesday, May 13, at the Organization of American States.

Council for Court Excellence is a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, D.C. that brings people together to conduct research, educate, and advocate to make D.C.’s unique legal systems more just, equitable, and accountable to the community.

About Crowell & Moring LLP

Crowell & Moring is an international law firm with operations in the United States, Europe, MENA, and Asia. Drawing on significant government, business, industry, and legal experience, the firm helps clients capitalize on opportunities and provides creative solutions to complex regulatory and policy, litigation, transactional, and intellectual property issues. The firm is consistently recognized for its commitment to pro bono service, as well as its comprehensive programs and initiatives to advance the professional and personal development of all members of the Crowell community.

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