Children and the Law - NACC Child Law Attorneys and Lawyers

Stephen Cahn dedicated his professional life to the representation of children and worked tirelessly to improve the practice of law for children. Mr. Cahn was extraordinarily generous with his time and resources when it came to serving children and the NACC. He was a long time member of the NACC and served on the Board of Directors. Awards will be given out periodically to honor the memory of Stephen Cahn and promote career practice in juvenile law. The awards will be presented at the NACC's National Conferences in two categories: Career Achievement and Promising Young Attorney.

Robert Schwartz has been named the recipient of the Stephen M. Cahn Award . Mr. Schwartz co-founded the Juvenile Law Center (JLC) in Philadelphia in 1975, at a time when the dedicated practice of law for children was virtually unheard of. He has served as Executive Director of JLC since 1982. Mr. Schwartz' representation of youth, mentorship of attorneys in the field, and his academic and policy advocacy accomplishments have established him as one of our nation's most valued juvenile attorneys.

John B. Ciccolella was the inaugural recipient of the Stephen M. Cahn Career Achievement Award. Mr. Ciccolella practices law in Colorado Springs , Colorado . He has been in private practice since 1973 serving children and families in Southern Colorado . Mr. Ciccolella has put his own life on the line to protect the legal rights of his clients. He was honored in 2002 for his dedication to children and families for nearly 30 years and the legal work he has done on their behalf.

Each year, the NACC recognizes excellence in the field of children's law through its sponsorship of the NACC Outstanding Legal Advocacy Award. Nominations for the award are solicited nationwide through professional journals, associations, and other organizations. The Outstanding Legal Advocacy Award is given to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to enhancing the well being of children through legal representation and other advocacy efforts. Nominees' accomplishments may include work in one or more of the following areas: legal protection and representation; training and education of children's advocates; promotion of legislative and policy changes designed to benefit children; and organization of related advocacy programs. The award is presented each year and the NACC Children's Law Conference.

Katherine Mullen has represented children in abuse, neglect, and delinquency cases with the Juvenile Rights Division for 18 years where she is known as a tireless, aggressive, and professional advocate. In particular, Ms. Mullen is recognized for her legal representation and public policy efforts on behalf of sexually exploited children who frequently enter the child welfare system as abuse victims and are subsequently punished criminally for engaging in sexual activity as a means of survival.

The Disability Legal Rights Center (DLRC), founded in 1975, is the oldest cross-disability non-profit legal advocacy agency in the U.S. DLRC is honored for the accomplishments of its Education Advocacy and Civil Rights Projects. Through these litigation projects, DLRC has improved access to the courts for individuals with disabilities and has established humane treatment and educational opportunity for disabled youth held in detention facilities.

A ceremony honoring Ms. Mullen and the Disability Legal Rights Center will be held August 17, 2007 at the NACC 30th National Juvenile and Family Law Conference at the Keystone Mountain Resort and Conference Center in Keystone, Colorado.

2008 Outstanding Affiliate Award
The NACC will begin accepting nominations for the 2008 Outstanding Affiliate Award in September 2007. The award will be presented to the affiliate that best fulfills the mission of the NACC on the local level. The mission of the NACC is to achieve the well being of children by promoting multidisciplinary excellence in children's law, establishing the legal interest of children and enhancing children's legal remedies. Affiliates should submit an application in letter form together with supporting documentation to NACC Affiliate Award, 1825 Marion Street, Suite 242, Denver, CO 80212. Submission deadline is June 1, 2008.

The NACC will begin accepting essays for the 2008 Law Student Essay Competition in September 2007 . The winning essay will be published in the 2008 Children's Law Manual, and the winner will be given $1,000, a one-year NACC membership and a scholarship to the 2008 conference in Savannah, GA. Essays will be evaluated on the importance of the topic to advancing the legal interests of children, originality, persuasiveness, and the quality of research and writing. Essay topics of national importance are given preference. Essays must be received by June 1, 2008. Essays may be submitted electronically to: Advocate@NACCchildlaw.org or by mail to: NACC Student Essay Competition / 1825 Marion Street, Suite 242 / Denver, Colorado 80218.

2007– Prevention and Rehabilitation of Youth Who Commit Sexual Offenses: The Importance of an Inter-Agency Approach by Andrea Randisi, UC Davis School of Law.

Honorable Mention - Making Miranda Protections Meaningful for Suspects with Cognitive Limitations by Amy Weiner, Harvard Law.

2006 – Adequate Access or Equal Treatment: Looking Beyond the IDEA to Section 504 in a Post-Shaffer Public School by Christopher J. Walker, Stanford Law School.
2005 – Free Exercise in Foster Care: Defining the Scope of Religious Rights for Foster Children and Their Families by Kelsi Brown Corkran, University of Chicago, and 2nd Place Violation of the Rights of Unaccompanied Immigrant Children in the United States, and the Need for Appointed Counsel by Javier Barraza, King Hall School of Law, University of California, Davis.

2004 - Child, School, and Police: Reappraising the “Special Needs” Doctrine in an Era of School-Law Enforcement Entanglement by Joshua Kagan of New York University Law School, and A Child’s Due Process Right to Legal Counsel in Abuse and Neglect Dependency Proceedings by Jacob Smiles of Washington University School of Law.

2003 – International Adoption in Cases of Children Separated From Their Parents by War by Cynthia Donley Young of Washington & Lee University School of Law.

2002 – Megan’s Laws Must Succeed Ex Post Facto and Apply Retroactively by Chris Curtin of University of Akron School of Law.