Blaine E. Capehart Legal Writing Award

Robert Russell has been named the recipient of the 27th Annual Blaine E. Capehart Legal Writing Award, sponsored by the law firm of Capehart Scatchard. Mr. Russell was presented with the award during Rutgers Law School’s commencement ceremony in Camden, New Jersey on May 21, 2026.

The Mt. Laurel-based firm awarded Mr. Russell with a $2,500 prize in recognition of his outstanding legal writing and research abilities. The annual award is presented to a graduating Rutgers law student in honor of the late Blaine E. Capehart, whose commitment to excellence in legal writing and mentorship helped shape the firm until his passing in 2012.

Rutgers’ Professors of Law, Joanne Gottesman and Jason Hernandez, had this to say about the winning submission: “Rob enjoys legal writing, and the breadth and depth of the written work he has completed in law school is striking. During his time as a fellow with the Rutgers Immigrant Community Assistance Project (RICAP) and as a student in the Immigrant Justice Clinic, Rob wrote multiple briefs, legal memos, and client declarations, as well as a habeas complaint. He dove deeply into legal research – often teaching himself new areas of immigration law and synthesizing new precedent as it was issued. Supervising Rob’s work in the clinic has been a pleasure, and we look forward to seeing all that he will accomplish – in his writing and in life – after graduation.”

Priya Kavuru was the recipient of the 25th Annual Blaine E. Capehart Legal Writing Award, sponsored by the law firm of Capehart Scatchard. The award recipient is a graduate of Rutgers Law School in Camden. On May 16, 2024, Mary Ellen Rose, Managing Shareholder, presented Ms. Kavuru with the award during the Camden Class Day Awards ceremony.

The Mt. Laurel-based firm awarded Ms. Kavuru with a $2,500 prize in recognition of her exemplary legal writing and research abilities.  The Firm offers this award to a graduating Rutgers law student on an annual basis in honor of the late Blaine E. Capehart, who was the Firm’s leader and patriarch until his death in 2012.

Ms. Kavuru’s award winning piece was entitled Appropriation Makes the Art Grow Fonder: The Fair Use Doctrine and the Future of Contemporary Art.

PHOTO: Priya Kavuru

PHOTO: Emma Martin

Emma Martin was the recipient of the 24th Annual Blaine E. Capehart Legal Writing Award, sponsored by the law firm of Capehart Scatchard. The award recipient is a graduate of Rutgers Law School in Camden. On May 16, 2023, Christopher Carlson, Litigation Department Shareholder, presented Ms. Martin with the award during the Camden Class Day Awards ceremony held at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden, NJ.

The Mt. Laurel-based firm awarded Ms. Martin with a $2,500 prize in recognition of her exemplary legal writing and research abilities.  The Firm offers this award to a graduating Rutgers law student on an annual basis in honor of the late Blaine E. Capehart.

Ms. Martin’s piece, Pronouns Up for Religious Debate: The Legal Protections for Misgendering and Religious Defenses Raised, was nominated for the award by Katie Eyer, Professor of Law at Rutgers Law School.  Professor Eyer had this to say about the winning paper: “Emma is an exceptional law student with an unwavering dedication to using her keen legal mind on behalf of LGBTQ equality. In her forthcoming Note, Emma offers a nuanced and detailed account of the important equality stakes of misgendering members of the transgender community and describes why the religious and speech-based arguments that are being raised in the courts to permit misgendering are misplaced. This publication comes at a critical time, when courts are actively debating these issues, and is an important contribution to the legal literature.”