The Judge Marcia G. Cooke Public Interest Scholarship

The South Florida Chapter of the Federal Bar Association has created a scholarship to honor the life and memory of the Honorable Marcia G. Cooke. Judge Cooke dedicated her life to public service, working in a variety of positions in local, state and federal government before ultimately becoming the first Black female federal district judge in the State of Florida and, to date, the only Black female federal district judge to have served in the Southern District of Florida.
This scholarship will be awarded to a local law student who has demonstrated a commitment to, and intends to pursue a career in, public service. The scholarship is a onetime award of $5,000.00 for use in the 2025-2026 academic year. Accordingly, applicants are limited to students who (1) currently are enrolled, and will continue to be enrolled in Fall 2025, at the Florida International University College of Law, St. Thomas University College of Law, or University of Miami School of Law; and (2) are student members of the Federal Bar Association. To be considered, please complete and submit the following application, along with a current resumé and law school transcript, to the South Florida Chapter of the Federal Bar Association at the following e-mail address: JudgeCookeScholarship@gmail.com. Only complete application packages received on or before June 13, 2025, will be considered. The recipient will be selected during Summer 2025 and will be notified prior to the start of the Fall 2025 Semester.