John R. "Jack" McGinley, Jr., chairman of Duquesne University' s Board of Directors, received the distinguished Thomas Addis Emmet Award in recognition of his outstanding legal career, philanthropic efforts and dedication to his Irish heritage.
The award was presented at a special event on Oct. 28 in Washington, D.C., at the home of the Ambassador of Ireland to the U.S. Daniel Mulhall. The event was attended by prominent members of the bench and bar from across the nation, including U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett.
Thomas Addis Emmet, after whom this special award was named, was an Irish patriot and renowned attorney who served as the state attorney general for New York in 1812. He argued more than 300 cases, including several in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. The Irish Legal 100, a national organization of distinguished legal professionals who share pride of their Irish roots, presented the award to McGinley.
"It is especially fitting and meaningful that Jack receives the Emmet Award," said Duquesne University President Ken Gormley, who introduced McGinley at the event. "Like Emmet, Jack is enormously proud of his Irish roots and heritage. He's built upon that Irish heritage to make extraordinary contributions to this legal profession we all cherish so much, and to the service of others."
McGinley, a 1968 Duquesne School of Law graduate, he has been instrumental in funding scholarships, a nursing school symposium series on health care justice for vulnerable populations, and a public service fellowship and building improvements in the law school. He is currently leading the drive to establish a new College of Osteopathic Medicine, which is scheduled to launch at Duquesne in fall 2024.
McGinley's legal career spans 45 years. He currently chairs the executive committee of the law firm Eckert Seamans and formerly was a founding partner of the firm Grogan, Graffam, McGinley and Lucchino. McGinley has also served as a director of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Wilson McGinley Inc. His family and foundation have contributed to a broad range of organizations providing education, health care and services fighting homelessness and hunger.
McGinley is a recipient of numerous other awards, including induction into Duquesne's Century Club of Distinguished Alumni, the Law Meritorious Service Award and the Spiritus Award, which recognizes exceptional service to the University and its students. He has also been recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer and a Pittsburgh Lawyer of the Year.
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