The CWRU School of Law has received a $2 million gift to name its law library in honor of the late Judge Ben C. Green, a 1930 alumnus of the law school. It is the largest individual outright gift ever received by the School of Law and is expected to have a pacesetting impact on its current $25 million comprehensive fundraising campaign, "Leading the Way in Legal Education."

This is also the most significant gift given so far toward the school's campaign. The campaign, which began in 1999 and was made public last fall, is the largest in the school's history.

"The School of Law's campaign will fund innovations that have been developed under our strategic plan," said Gerald Korngold, dean and McCurdy Professor of Law. "These initiatives will help propel CWRU School of Law to a leadership position within legal education."

The campaign has raised $18.3 million, or 73 percent of the total, to date.

The law library will be named the Judge Ben C. Green Law Library. The family of the late judge was instrumental in making this gift a reality.

Family spokesperson Roe Green said, "My father had a special affinity for the law and the education of its advocates. The naming of the library in his honor is a fitting tribute to the memory of a fine man and excellent jurist."

Judge Ben C. Green was appointed to the Federal bench by President John F. Kennedy in 1962 and served 20 years as judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

"Our school is extremely grateful to the Green family for their friendship and for the wonderful opportunities they have offered the school and its students through their support," Korngold said. "The law school is deeply honored to name its law library in memory of the Honorable Ben C. Green.

"This is a very exciting time in the history of our school," Korngold added. "In the past few years we have implemented major curricular innovations, developed new Centers of Excellence, introduced more than 75 new courses and hired many outstanding new faculty. This campaign will provide us the resources to complement the classic legal education with innovative academic offerings and distinguish our school."

Korngold said he has been encouraged by the support of the school's alumni and friends.

"Their support has always been and continues to be essential to the law school's success," he said. "They enable us to lead the way in legal education and ensure a bright future for the school."