Professor Gwen Roseman Stern, appearing at Stetson University College of Law’s Educating Advocates Teaching Advocacy Skills Conference, was selected to confer an award upon Judge Luis Felipe Restrepo of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Stern, director of Trial Advocacy at the Kline School of Law, was chosen to present Restrepo with Stetson’s Cornerstone Award, in recognition of his commitment to providing learning opportunities for trial lawyers.

“He’s a consummate teacher and a jurist who has keen intellect,” said Stern, who has known Restrepo since they joined forces to lead a training program sponsored by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy 20 years ago. “I was so moved by his passion for teaching and how he gave the students the courage to try and achieve greatness.”

Restrepo, who began his career as a public defender, was appointed U.S. magistrate judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in 2006. He was confirmed as a district judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in 2013. He was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in 2016.

Throughout his career as a jurist, Stern said, Restrepo has demonstrated a commitment to helping former prison inmates as they re-enter the community.

“When he was nominated to the Third Circuit, that was a condition he set,” Stern said. “He wanted to stay involved with the re-entry program. He’s an innovator in helping to rehabilitate people who’ve made bad choices.”

Stern said she was deeply honored to confer the award.