2026

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 24, 2026—Santa Clara University School of Law has established the Manaster-Stevens Public Interest Fellowship in recognition of Professor Emeritus Kenneth Manaster’s central role in creating and growing the Justice John Paul Stevens Fellowship Program and the Justice John Paul Stevens Foundation.

The $10,000 Manaster-Stevens Fellowship will be awarded annually to one Santa Clara Law student to support their summer work in the public interest, particularly around environmental, gun control, and voting rights law. The Manaster-Stevens Fellowship is one of several Stevens Public Interest Fellowships offered at Santa Clara Law. 

The program, started in 1997 at Northwestern University School of Law and then expanded to Santa Clara Law in 2000, has produced over 90 Fellows at Santa Clara Law and over 1200 Fellows across 40 law schools since its inception and has raised millions of dollars for students. It provides professional development opportunities and financial support through public interest summer internships. Seventy-four percent of participants go on to work in public interest legal positions. The program is named after Justice John Paul Stevens, who served as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States from 1975-2010. In 2015, a 30-minute PBS documentary about Justice Stevens had its premiere at Santa Clara University. 

“For many years, it has been a joy and honor for me to work with the Law School and Skip Paul to create paths for law students at Santa Clara and elsewhere to work in critical public interest areas. Now his generous grant to the Law School adds an additional honor as we continue to open opportunities for our students in the name of the great Justice Stevens,” said Manaster.

A respected scholar of environmental law, Manaster joined the Santa Clara Law faculty in 1972, teaching his last class in 2021. He principally taught environmental law, administrative law, and torts. For many years, he chaired the Hearing Board of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. From 1990 through 2021, he served as Counsel to the environmental law group at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP in San Francisco, California. Earlier, Manaster served as an Assistant Attorney General of Illinois, heading the Chicago office of the Environmental Control Division. In 1969, he worked with then-attorney Stevens on a historic investigation of corruption in the Illinois Supreme Court. 

Manaster sits on the Board of Directors of the John Paul Stevens Foundation alongside alumnus Skip Paul, J.D. ’75, who served as a law clerk for Justice Stevens at the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit Court and the Supreme Court of the United States and helped establish the Foundation and Fellowship program.
 
“The program is the realization of what Justice Stevens wanted for his legacy—an opportunity for students to gain hands-on public interest experience while in law school without worrying about financial barriers,” said Paul. “This award is an expression of gratitude to Ken for his partnership in creating the Fellowship 25 years ago and helping it grow to the comprehensive program it is today—and recognition of his 50-year relationship with Justice Stevens as a friend and collaborator.” 

The program is one of many experiential learning opportunities students have access to at Santa Clara Law, advancing the school's mission to promote and enable a commitment to social justice and public service through law. 

About Santa Clara University School of Law

Santa Clara University School of Law is dedicated to educating lawyers who lead with a commitment to excellence, ethics, and social justice. Santa Clara Law offers students an academically rigorous program including certificates in high tech, international, public interest and social justice, privacy, and sports law, as well as numerous graduate and joint degree options. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara Law is nationally distinguished for its faculty engagement, preparation for practice, and top-ranked programs in intellectual property and international law. For more information, see law.scu.edu.

Media Contact

Pamela Nonga Ngue | Santa Clara Law Marketing & Communications | pnongangue@scu.edu | 408-551-1763