The State Bar of Michigan will present Steven J. Cernak of Detroit with the 2001 John W. Cummiskey Pro Bono Award for his outstanding commitment to many pro bono issues. The award will be presented during the Thursday, September 13 luncheon during the Bar's 66th Annual Meeting in Lansing.

Cernak is an attorney with the Marketing and Trade Regulation Section of the General Motors Corporation Legal Staff. He has practiced antitrust and trade regulation law for GM since 1989 and serves as lead counsel for GM's Service Operations.

He spends an extraordinary number of hours on pro bono activities and is a leader in such efforts not only at General Motors, but also in the entire Detroit community.

Cernak played a key role in setting up the Detroit Legal Services Clinic, a facility that provides free legal services to low income individuals throughout southeastern Michigan. He is starting his fourth year as Chairman of the Volunteer Lawyers Committee and spearheads efforts to raise funds for the clinic. Cernak was also instrumental in last year's partnership between the clinic and Community Legal Resources, a program created to extend legal services to non-profit and community-based organizations.

Cernak is a member of the American Bar Association and a vice chair of the Annual Meeting Committee of the Antitrust Section of the ABA. He is a former member of the Council of the State Bar of Michigan Antitrust, Franchising and Trade Regulation Section.

A 1989 graduate from the University of Michigan Law School, Cernak's long history of undertaking pro bono service has earned him accolades from those who know him. He is described as "unfailingly reliable, enthusiastic, unwavering, tireless, creative and selfless." He was nominated for the Cummiskey Award by the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, Legal Aid Defenders Association, Community Legal Resources, and the General Motors Legal Staff.