CSU College of Law Inducts 2026 Hall of Fame Class Celebrating Leadership, Service and Lasting Impact 

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Cleveland State University College of Law (CSU Law) celebrated its newest Hall of Fame inductees whose careers and service have made a lasting impact on the legal profession, CSU Law and their communities. 

The 2026 Cleveland State University College of Law Hall of Fame honorees are Janet Burney ’79, Peter Klein ’81, Becky Ruppert McMahon, Elmer Whiting Jr. ’55 and Robin Wilson ’96. Ashley Jones ’11 is also honored as the 2026 Leader on the Rise, recognizing an emerging leader whose professional accomplishments and service reflect the values and promise of the CSU Law community. 

Established in 2017, the CSU Law Hall of Fame recognizes alumni, faculty, staff, friends and community leaders whose leadership and service have helped shape the strength and reputation of the College of Law. 

“The 2026 Hall of Fame class represents the extraordinary breadth of leadership and service that defines the CSU Law community,” said Carolyn Broering-Jacobs, co-interim dean, BakerHostetler Chair in Law and Legal Writing Professor of Law. “From breaking barriers in the legal and accounting professions to leading some of our region’s most important civic and legal institutions, this year’s honorees have built careers that demonstrate what it means to use a legal education to make a meaningful difference. We are proud to celebrate their accomplishments and the example they set for our students.” 

 The 2026 Hall of Fame class includes:

  • Janet Burney ’79, general counsel, deputy general manager for legal affairs, and chief legal, safety and ethics officer for the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, who in 1998 became the first African American woman elected to the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court bench.
  • Peter Klein ’81, a South Florida attorney with decades of experience in mergers and acquisitions, executive compensation and private equity, and a longtime CSU Law supporter and mentor.
  • Becky Ruppert McMahon, president and CEO of the Cleveland Leadership Center and former CEO of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, whose career has centered on civic leadership and strengthening the Greater Cleveland community.
  • Elmer Whiting Jr. ’55, a pioneering attorney and CPA who became Ohio’s first African American certified public accountant and later the first Black partner at Ernst & Ernst, now Ernst & Young. Whiting was honored posthumously.
  • Robin Wilson ’96, a litigation partner at UB Greensfelder LLP and former television journalist whose three-decade legal career has included service as a prosecutor, government trial counsel, CSU Law adjunct professor and alumni leader.

The Hall of Fame is CSU Law’s premier fundraising event, with proceeds supporting student scholarships and critical student needs.

“The Hall of Fame is both a celebration of where CSU Law has been and an investment in where we are going,” said Brian E. Ray, co-interim dean, BakerHostetler Chair in Law and director of the Center for Cybersecurity and Privacy Protection. “Our honorees show our students the many ways a legal education can translate into leadership, service and impact. At the same time, the support generated through this event helps ensure that financial barriers do not prevent talented students from pursuing their own paths in the law.”

The 2026 CSU College of Law Hall of Fame took place Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, in the Moot Court Room at Cleveland State University College of Law.

For more information about the Hall of Fame and the 2026 honorees, visit hof.csulaw.org.