On May 13, Tzedek DC was honored with the 2025 Justice Potter Stewart Award from the Council for Court Excellence (CCE) for its commitment to public service, access to justice, and systemic reform in the District.
The award was presented at he 28th Annual Justice Potter Stewart Award Dinner on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at the Organization of American States. Additional honorees include Susan M. Hoffman of Crowell & Moring LLP and Dr. Roger A. Mitchell, Jr., President of Howard University Hospital.
Presented annually since 1997, the Justice Potter Stewart Award honors individuals and organizations whose work on behalf of the administration of justice has made a significant contribution to the law, the legal system, the courts, or the administrative process in the District. The award commemorates the legacy of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart.
Tzedek DC was introduced by Allyson Baker, a founding member of Tzedek DC’s Advisory Council and a member of CCE, alongside Robin Nunn, who serves on the Boards of both Tzedek DC and CCE. Along with remarks from Tzedek DC’s Founding Director, Ariel Levinson-Waldman, we also shared a video highlighting our Young Adult Financial Empowerment Program.
“Along with Susie Hoffman and Dr. Mitchell and the extraordinary models of advancing justice that they represent, we are honored to receive the Justice Potter Stewart Award and to stand alongside CCE as organizations unswerving in the pursuit of a fairer DC that can and will and must continue to bend the arc towards justice in this community,” said Ariel Levinson-Waldman. “This award is a tribute to our dedicated, talented, and community-minded team members and volunteers, and our clients, allies, and partners, and serves as a reaffirmation of our shared commitment to dismantling barriers to justice in the District.”
About Tzedek DC
Tzedek DC’s name is drawn from the ancient Jewish teaching “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof,” or “Justice, justice you shall pursue.” Headquartered at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law and with an office in Ward 8, Tzedek DC’s mission is to safeguard the legal rights and financial health of DC residents with lower incomes facing the often-devastating consequences of debt collection and credit-related obstacles. This mission is carried out as anti-racism work in response to the massive wealth gaps tracking race in DC and nationwide. Tzedek DC seeks to serve and empower our client base, which is comprised of 90% Black people, 60% women, and 25% disabled community members. Our strategic approach combines three synergistic activities: (i) free direct services—legal representation and advice and financial counseling; (ii) working in coalition to make systemic change; and (iii) providing bilingual community legal education on debt collection, identity theft, and credit management.