Duquesne Kline School of Law honors alumni with awards

Judge McCarthy was recognized with the Distinguished Alumnus Award as an alumnus who graduated 20 years or more ago and has distinguished himself through achievements in the legal profession, the community, and to Duquesne Kline School of Law. Stoy was honored with the Outstanding Achievement Award, as an alumna who has practiced law 19 years or less and who has distinguished herself through achievements in the legal profession, community, and service to Duquesne Kline School of Law. Judge Woodruff was recognized for his service and commitment to Duquesne Kline School of Law with the Dr. John E. Murray, Jr. Meritorious Service Award.

“It is our deepest privilege to honor these remarkable alumni. Each have dedicated themselves to upholding the highest ideals of our profession and have achieved remarkable success in their respective legal careers. While doing so, they have lived the call for service to others. They have been extremely impactful to Duquesne Kline School of Law, and we are very appreciative of their ongoing and lasting contributions to our school,” Dean April Barton said.

The Honorable Michael E. McCarthy 

Judge Michael E. McCarthy is currently assigned to the Court of Common Pleas Fifth Judicial District Orphans’ Division. Before ascending the bench, Judge McCarthy served as a County Detective. After graduating from law school, his varied career included a stint as an assistant District Attorney in the White-Collar Crime Unit. He then served as the Administrative Chairman of the Court of Common Pleas Board of Viewers. At the Board, Judge McCarthy oversaw operations, conducted Eminent Domain and Real Estate Tax Appeal Hearings. The Judge had a general law practice and held several municipal solicitorships.

Judge McCarthy received both his undergraduate degree and Juris Doctor from Duquesne University. Judge McCarthy is a Vietnam Veteran and served with distinction in the U. S. Navy Seabees. He was the recipient of the National Defense Medal, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, the U.S. Navy Vietnam Service Medal, the U.S. Navy Seabee Combat Badge, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, U.S. Navy Achievement Medal and received an Honorable Discharge. Judge McCarthy has been a pioneer in the implementation of the Veterans’ Court, a special division of the court to deal with veterans’ issues in the Fifth Judicial District of Pennsylvania. Judge McCarthy received the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation Judges Award in 2010 for his development of the Mortgage Foreclosure Program with the 5th Judicial District, the Action Housing Award in 2012 as well as The National Irish Voice 100 Award for Judicial Leadership for 2011. Judge McCarthy has also received the 2010 Veteran of the Year Award from Brentwood Post 1810 and Soldier & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum 2011 Friend and Patriot of the Year Award. In 2012, he was a founding Trustee of Pittsburgh Fisher House Helping Military Families. He was a 2012 Grand Marshall of the Pittsburgh Veterans Day Parade and in 2014 Pittsburgh Business Times named him one of the 10 Veterans of Influence.

Judge McCarthy has been married to Janice Lynn McCarthy since 1974, and they have two daughters, Maura Elizabeth and Caitlin Lee.

Kate L. Stoy, Esq.

Kate Stoy is a commercial litigator at Fox Rothschild where she serves as national coordinating counsel to corporate clients managing their litigation portfolios. In this role, she advises businesses in various industries—including technology, construction, transportation, energy, and medical—on litigation strategies to best protect business interests and mitigate risk. As part of this practice, Kate routinely spearheads issues of first impression important to her client’s business interests, creates novel litigation management strategies, and enforces arbitration agreements.

Prior to joining Fox Rothschild, Kate worked as a trial lawyer defending corporate clients. Her clients ranged from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, in state and federal courts and in arbitration, and involved complex contractual disputes, products liability, transportation, health care, construction, and energy disputes. Kate has also represented medical professionals in disciplinary investigations conducted by licensing boards in Pennsylvania. As a result of professional accomplishments, Kate is regularly recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star.

Kate is a 2012 graduate of the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University. During her time in law school, she co-founded the appellate moot court board with her now-husband, Frank. Together they competed in regional and national ABA Arbitration Competitions and the prestigious Jerome Prince Memorial Evidence Competition. For her contributions to the law school, Kate received numerous awards upon graduation, including the Distinguished Student Award.

Kate is an avid pro bono advocate, participating in various projects over the last decade. Most recently, Kate pioneered her firm’s participation in the Protection from Abuse Project, a key initiative of the Pittsburgh Pro Bono Partnership, and serves as her firm’s representative on the Partnership’s Executive Board. Through this program, Fox Rothschild attorneys regularly volunteer to provide on-site assistance for domestic violence victims during final protection from abuse hearings. Prior to this project, Kate also served as a regular volunteer for low-income clients in landlord-tenant cases.

From 2014-2023, Kate served on the Law Alumni Association Board of Governors, including as its president for the 2022-2023 academic year. During her term as president, Kate spearheaded a mental health and well-being initiative to combat the high rates of stress, depression, and substance abuse among lawyers beginning in law school. To do this, Kate coordinated funding for mental health first-aid training of staff and student leaders as well as a speaker series designed to engage and educate law students about stress management and community support earlier in their careers. Kate continues to work to support law students, as well as associates, including by service on her firm’s Partner Advisory Committee.

Kate lives in Washington County with her husband and two children, Adelaide (7) and Frankie (3).

The Honorable Dwayne D. Woodruff

Judge Dwayne D. Woodruff is assigned to the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), presiding in the Family Court Division since 2005 and appointed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court as Supervising Judge of the Juvenile Section in February 2019, serving in that role through 2023.

Judge Woodruff earned a degree in Business Finance from the University of Louisville (1979) and a Juris Doctor from Duquesne Kline School of Law (1988), which he attended full time at night during his professional football career with the Pittsburgh Steelers; playing 12 seasons, including in Super Bowl XIV (1980) as a rookie; being voted Steelers MVP in 1982.

Judge Woodruff has the unprecedented distinction of a dual career in professional sports: simultaneously practicing law with the Meyer Darragh firm and playing football for the Pittsburgh Steelers for his final three years from 1988 thru 1990, at which time he also served as the Team Captain for the Steelers. In 1997, he became a founding partner of Woodruff Flaherty law firm.

In 2006, Judge Woodruff was one of four Judges appointed by the PA Supreme Court to the Pennsylvania Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice, tasked with investigating and making recommendations to the state following the Luzerne County “Kids for Cash” scandal that resulted in two judges serving long prison terms. Judge Woodruff was subsequently appointed chairman of the Pittsburgh Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice and was able to enact a rule that non-violent juvenile delinquents are no longer brought into the courtroom in handcuffs and shackles, thereby lessening the trauma that they and their parents experience during court proceedings.

Judge Woodruff founded and chairs the Pittsburgh chapter of the National Campaign to Stop Violence’s “Do the Write Thing” program, an initiative which gives middle school students the opportunity to write about the impact of violence in their lives, and their thoughts on the causes of violence and how to end violence.

Through his job, Judge Woodruff considers it a privilege to be in a position to give guidance to youth, especially the young Black males who come before him in court. He feels his work with youth is a calling with responsibilities that do not end with the job. He is a regular speaker at Duquesne Kline School of Law, including at the annual Future Voices of the People event.

The recipient of numerous awards for community service and his work with youth, on MLK Day in 2020, the Allegheny County Bar Association – Homer S. Brown Division awarded he and his wife Joy Maxberry Woodruff with the Drum Major for Justice Award.

Most significant among his many blessings are his marriage of 47 years to Joy and his three adult children—Jillian Woodruff, MD, an OB/GYN physician in Alaska; Jenyce Woodruff, Esq., a corporate attorney in Philadelphia; and John B. Woodruff, II, Esq., also an attorney and a Major in the United States Marines. 

Judge and Mrs. Woodruff worship at Allegheny Center Alliance Church where he serves as an Elder.