Robert J Kutak was a prominent Omaha attorney during the 1960’s through the early 1980’s. Kutak is perhaps best known for heading up the Kutak Commission which in 1977 was charged with the arduous task of writing a model code of ethics to be adopted by the American Bar Association. The resulting Model Rules of Professional Conduct in some version has been adopted by 49 states. To honor his memory and concern with the moral integrity of the practice of law, the Robert J. Kutak Foundation sponsors an annual American Bar Association award for ethics in the practice of law. Sandra Day O’Connor won the award in 2006 (see below for a list of recipients). His memory also lives on in the name of the nationwide law firm he helped found, Kutak Rock, and in the many projects sponsored by the foundation that carries his name. For instance, we are proud to be a part of the Robert J. Kutak Foundation family and strive to honor his memory by pursuing our mission to encourage critical thinking and moral reasoning across the University of Nebraska-Lincoln community.
For more about Robert J. Kutak:
Robert Bob Kutak
Geoffrey C. Hazard Jr., Robert J. Kutak: A Brief Appreciation, 36 Okla. L. Rev. 309 (1983).