Press Room

New York, NY – July 1, 2019 — ALM announces that Tony Mauro, who has chronicled the U.S. Supreme Court for nearly 40 years, is retiring from ALM daily news coverage effective today. Mauro joined Legal Times in 2000 and previously reported for Gannett News Service and USA Today. He is the author of several books about the high court, including ‘Illustrated Great Decisions of the Supreme Court’ and ‘Landmark Cases: 12 Historic Supreme Court Decisions.’

Mauro’s reporting spotlighted more than what the justices were saying and writing at the Supreme Court—but also their lives, and personalities, away from it. The late Justice Antonin Scalia once remarked that one of his stories, about a bill that would let justices get paid for speeches, ‘makes gossipy, titillating (and thus characteristically Mauronic) copy.’ 

Mauro’s coverage has included the close examination of the justices’ records both in the cases they rule on and the law clerks they hire. He published a series of exclusive stories in 2017 highlighting the dearth of minority clerks at the Supreme Court. Relatedly, he annually pressed law firms about the hiring competition for former clerks. Mauro tracked the justices’ recusals and financial disclosures.

In addition to his court coverage, Mauro has been a longtime member of the steering committee of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. In 2011, he was admitted into the Freedom of Information Hall of Fame in recognition of his work promoting greater public access to the courts and other institutions. In retirement, he will continue to be a contributor to ALM publications.

To mark Tony Mauro’s retirement, ALM Media is launching a new award to honor lawyers who zealously advocate for freedom of the press. It will be called the Tony Mauro Media Lawyer Award and will be given at the annual American Lawyer Industry Awards event on December 4. The award will recognize lawyers who, during the year, have taken the lead in protecting press freedom—whether they are litigating for access to court or other government documents and institutions, or defending individual journalists and media organizations. They can be lawyers who protect journalists in all kinds of media, including online outlets, print and broadcast, and student journalists as well. Lawyers who are in private practice as well as non-profits from around the country will be eligible.

“Especially in these times when journalists and media organizations are under broad attack, lawyers are playing an essential role in reminding courts and government leaders about the importance of a robust media industry in our democracy,” Mauro said. “These lawyers deserve to be recognized and I am grateful that with this new award, media lawyers and their crucial advocacy will be celebrated.”

We welcome nominations for potential winners of the award. Please email Tony Mauro at [email protected] and Gina Passarella at [email protected], Editor-in-Chief of The American Lawyer.

“ALM is honored to be able to continue to work with Tony in his capacity as a contributor to our publications in the years to come but we are especially gratified to celebrate his work each year through the Tony Mauro Media Lawyer Award.” said Molly Miller, Chief Content Officer, ALM Media. 

“For nearly 20 years, Tony has been a shining star for ALM: a beacon of journalistic excellence who has helped laid the foundation for what we’ve built as a news organization, and a role model for our reporters and editors to emulate,” said Hank Grezlak, Editor-in-Chief of Legal Themes, Law.com & Regional Brands. “He’s written so many stories that mattered and resonated with both readers and colleagues alike. We’re honored to have worked with him, to be continuing to work with him, and to establish this award to put an exclamation point on his legacy.”

“It has been an honor and privilege to witness Supreme Court history in the making for all these years, and to do so with such great colleagues at The National Law Journal and Law.com, including my dear colleague and friend Marcia Coyle, and editors Mike Scarcella, Vanessa Blum and Lisa Helem. I am also grateful to ALM Media leaders Molly Miller and Hank Grezlak for giving me the green light to continue to provide Supreme Court stories periodically in retirement,” Mauro said.

About ALM

ALM is the most trusted media, information and intelligence company supporting both the practice of and business of professionals in the legal, insurance, commercial real estate and financial services industries. ALM delivers leading data, intelligence, insights, events and audiences essential for growing businesses globally to over 7 million professionals. Please visit www.alm.com for more information, and visit www.alm.com/events/ to learn about our upcoming events. Please follow us on Twitter at @ALMGlobal_.