Blank Rome is pleased to announce that Judge Stephen M. Orlofsky, partner in the Business Litigation practice group, co-chair of the Appellate Litigation practice group, and co-chair of the Princeton office, was presented with the firm’s annual Edwin P. Rome Pro Bono Achievement Award in recognition of his lifelong dedication to public service and his outstanding commitment to pro bono legal work.
Judge Orlofsky’s career has been defined by service—first through his military service, then through his years on the federal bench, and now through his dedication to pro bono work and mentorship of young lawyers. At Blank Rome, he has trained and mentored generations of associates handling federal court appointments in civil rights cases, while personally providing exemplary pro bono assistance to those who would otherwise not receive it.
He has also been deeply involved in efforts to protect and support individuals whose lives were put at risk because of their work with the United States, including Iraqi translators who faced grave danger due to their assistance to U.S. forces. Through his tireless advocacy, he helped bring these individuals and their families to safety in the United States, where they are now thriving citizens.
In addition to his legal and public service contributions, Judge Orlofsky has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to education and community support through his philanthropy. He created and funded the New Jersey Innocent Project at Rutgers University and established the Stephen M. Orlofsky Endowed Appellate Advocacy Fund at Rutgers Law School. He also endowed the Charlotte K. Gaal Memorial Endowed Scholarship, in honor of his late wife, which provides assistance to female law students at Rutgers Law School. In further recognition of his personal connections and service, he endowed the Harold B. (“Pinky”) Durham Memorial Scholarship at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in honor of his good friend and Officer Candidate School classmate, Pinky Durham, who was killed in Vietnam and awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously. That scholarship supports returning veterans, reflecting Judge Orlofsky’s enduring respect for those who have served.
He is also a long-time board member of Legal Services of New Jersey and a generous philanthropist whose contributions continue to expand access to justice and educational opportunity.
Named in honor of one of Blank Rome’s founding partners, the Edwin P. Rome Pro Bono Achievement Award is the firm’s highest distinction, recognizing outstanding performance and a demonstrated commitment to providing pro bono legal service each year.
For more information about our pro bono service, please click here.