Professor Joel Finer began his long and illustrious career at the University of Texas School of Law, where he headed the Federal Appellate Defender Program. His scholarly research on religious rights in the use of psychedelic drugs led him to aid in the appellate defense of Dr. Timothy Leary, the noted psychotherapist that studied hallucinogenic drugs like LSD and marijuana. Professor Finer then worked at a New York law firm, was a visiting professor at Stanford University, and was a member of the faculty at University of Arizona College of Law for 10 years. Professor Finer began his tenure with Cleveland State College of Law in 1980, and retired in 2008. He was well known for his love of learning, teaching, and he often told his students, “Everything is open to question; challenge me, challenge the judges, challenge yourself, but remember to do what’s right and to love what you’re doing.” The Cleveland State University College of Law Professor Joel J. Finer Award is given annually to the law school’s top Criminal Procedure students. As a tribute to Professor Finer’s teaching, scholarship, and impact on the lives of students, the Joel J. Finer Award was created more than 15 years ago by his former student, Carter Strang ’84, a partner at the Cleveland firm Tucker Ellis. To date, over 60 CSU|LAW students have received the award.