Professor Norton honored with Creator-Innovator Award

Norton was nominated for the award for her project focused on assisting low-income litigants in navigating the appeals process. The awards committee was particularly impressed with the creativity and social relevance of Kate’s work, noting she addressed “the intersection of low-income legal services and the use of technology as a solution to the justice gap in the United States is also mission centric.”

Additionally, Norton has recently presented her work, “The Impact of Digital Footprints on Adoption Confidentiality, Ethics, and the Individual,” an early-stage article, for the University’s Grefenstette Center Faculty Scholars Program. The interdisciplinary Grefenstette Center takes an unflinching look at the ethical intersections between science and technology in the modern world from the perspective of the Catholic faith tradition.”  

The idea came to Norton from her work directing the Tribone Center for Clinical Legal Education, comprised of community-focused clinics, externship opportunities, a pro bono program and fellowships. There, she advises student attorneys providing them hands-on client experiences. She noticed that with DNA and digital tools, many confidential adoptions are not remaining closed.

“Between 23 and me and digital footprints, there’s not much confidentiality anymore. Even though we as lawyers tell clients that adoption law provides for confidentiality, it may not be. This impacts every party in an adoption and there are concerns about how it could impact low-income families differently.” Norton said.

She plans to continue her research and is honored to be a recipient of the Creator-Innovator Award and being named a 2022-2023 Grefensette Faculty Scholar. Norton said, “The Greffesnette Center provides unique opportunities for faculty, students, and the role of ethics and technology in the future. The Center brings together all disciplines—business, law, computer science, theology, and more to explore these important issues.” 

April Barton, Dean of Duquesne Kline, commends Norton on her work. She said, “We are so proud of Kate for her work. She saw a need and is researching and working to try to correct it for others. Her work embodies the Spiritan mission of justice for all.”