Akron, Ohio, Friday, May 15, 2009 - The Ohio State Bar Association's (OSBA) Legal Education Committee honored Professor J. Dean Carro of The University of Akron School of Law as the recipient of the 2009 OSBA Legal Education Committee Award. This award is given to an outstanding legal education professional who has contributed to Ohio law and the Ohio bar. The award was presented Thursday evening at the OSBA Annual Meeting in Cleveland.
J. Dean Carro has been with The University of Akron School of Law since 1978. As director of the law school's legal clinic, Professor Carro engages in the active practice of law. He also teaches in the areas of appellate advocacy, criminal law, criminal procedure and supervises students in clinical education.
"I have the best job," Carro said. "Whether it is preparing students for legal careers, assisting indigent clients or presenting a continuing legal education course to lawyers and judges, I am able to have some impact on the profession that I am so passionate about."
Outside of the classroom, Carro has appeared on two merit cases in the U. S. Supreme Court, as well as numerous merit cases in the Supreme Court of Ohio and the U. S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. Professor Carro has presented more than 150 appellate arguments, including arguments before various state courts of appeals. He frequently presents continuing legal education programs to judges and attorneys and is a ready resource for the media.
"We are proud of Professor Carro's many and varied activities and accomplishments," Martin H. Belsky, dean of the law school wrote in his letter of nomination. "Most of all, we are proud of his character, integrity and commitment to the legal profession. He is indeed a candidate worthy of this prestigious award."
Carro received his undergraduate degree from State University College of New York at New Paltz and his law degree from The University of Akron. In addition to being a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, he is also past president of the Akron Bar Association (2007-08) and a founding member of the Scanlon Inn of Court. Carro is also a member of the American Bar Association; American Arbitration Association; Federal Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Panel and Rules Advisory Committee; and the Association of American Law Schools Committee on Clinical Education. He received the Akron Bar Association's "Liberty Bell Award" for his work as a defender of the Constitution, and he was named an Ohio Super Lawyer for 2009 by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine.