Claire Tonry ’09 Honored with Kerry Rydberg-Jack Tuholske Award for Public Interest Litigation

Lewis & Clark Law School alumna Claire Tonry ’09 has been named the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Kerry Rydberg-Jack Tuholske Award for Public Interest Litigation. The award, now in its 36th year, recognizes lawyers who embody the spirit and dedication of Kerry Rydberg and Jack Tuholske—two trailblazing environmental advocates whose legacy continues to shape public interest litigation.

Tonry received the award during the 43rd annual Public Interest Environmental Law Conference (PIELC) in Eugene, Oregon, where this year’s 2025 theme, Rising to the Challenge: Justice on the Horizon, highlighted the urgent need for creative and inclusive approaches to environmental protection.

Claire Tonry ’09 with environmental attorney Charlie Tebbutt, a previous recipient of the Kerry Rydberg-Jack Tuholske Award for Public Interest Litigation, following the award ceremony.
Credit: Eugene Tonry

Tonry has built an impressive career using a wide range of legal tools to restore the environment, protect voters and consumers, and advance progressive policies. Whether enforcing the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, or open government laws, her strategic and passionate advocacy has secured significant victories for her clients and the broader public interest. “My clients’ causes are my personal causes as well. I bring a level of passion and work ethic that reflects the importance of my clients’ missions,” Tonry said.

“We are so proud to see Claire’s incredible work recognized on such a meaningful stage,” said Janice Weis, Associate Dean and Director of the Environmental, Natural Resources, and Energy Law Program at Lewis & Clark Law School. “It’s always wonderful when our talented alumni are honored by external organizations—it speaks to the deep impact they’re making in the world and the strength of our environmental law community.”

Tonry’s work has been widely recognized. She has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in environmental law and regularly speaks at CLE courses, conferences, and law school classrooms .

Tonry earned her JD and a certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law, with a focus on Animal Law, from Lewis & Clark Law School in 2009. She also holds a BA, with honors, in Environmental Studies and Economics from the University of Oregon.

The Kerry Rydberg-Jack Tuholske Award honors two giants of environmental law. Kerry Rydberg graduated from law school in 1987 and quickly became a fierce advocate for grassroots environmental causes, challenging destructive practices such as old-growth logging and the hunting of cougars with radio-collared dogs. His career was tragically cut short by a car accident in 1989. Jack Tuholske, a longtime environmental litigator based in Montana, devoted his life to protecting wild lands and their inhabitants until his passing in 2020.

Tonry’s recognition with this award places her among an esteemed group of advocates who have dedicated their careers to fighting for environmental justice. Her work stands as a testament to the power of legal advocacy in safeguarding the environment and protecting vulnerable communities.