Tom Curtin ’68 J.D. Receives 2026 American Inns of Court Professionalism Award for the Third Circuit

Notre Dame Law School alumnus Thomas Curtin ‘68 J.D. has been selected to receive the prestigious 2026 American Inns of Court Professionalism Award for the Third Circuit. This award honors a lawyer or judge whose career and conduct reflect extraordinary character, unwavering integrity, and a steadfast commitment to professionalism. This honor was awarded to Curtin during the 2026 Third Circuit Judicial Conference on May 6-8, 2026. Curtin will also be recognized at the American Inns of Court Celebration of Excellence Dinner at the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington.

Curtin is a partner at McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP, where he practices civil and commercial litigation and mediation in New Jersey federal and state courts. Prior to joining the firm in 2018, he spent decades at Graham Curtin PA, which he helped found in 1987.

Throughout his career, Curtin has been deeply involved in the legal profession and public service. He has held leadership roles with the American Bar Association and New Jersey State Bar Association, chaired the Lawyers Advisory Committee for the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey since 2009, is a founding member of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals Bar Association, and helped establish the New Jersey Lawyers Assistance Program. He has also been an active member of the Notre Dame Law Association Board for several years and served as president of the board from 2000 to 2001.

Chief Judge Michael Chagares of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit nominated Curtin for the award. He wrote in his nomination letter, “It is an understatement to say that Tom’s love of the law and its practice runs deep. A veteran commercial litigator and widely regarded as a ‘lawyer’s lawyer,’ Tom possesses the same strong zeal, ambition, and passion as the day he proudly graduated from University of Notre Dame Law School in 1968. In short, I cannot think of a more deserving person than Tom for this award. He is a consummate professional, outstanding attorney, devoted volunteer, and a remarkable person.”

Notre Dame Law School celebrates Curtin’s career as an example of the integrity, leadership, and service that define its alumni community.