U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara gave the graduation address and received an honorary doctorate of laws degree at Fordham Law’s 106th diploma ceremony, held on May 19 at Radio City Music Hall.
Fordham University President Joseph M. McShane, S.J., and Fordham Law Dean Michael M. Martin conferred degrees on 660 graduates—481 of whom received juris doctor degrees and 179 of whom received Master of Law degrees.
Bharara, appointed U.S. Attorney by President Obama and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate, has served in the position since 2009. He was featured in a Time magazine cover story, “This Man is Busting Wall Street,” and was also named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by the publication in 2012.
“I hope you always keep liberty and justice in your hearts, and think from this day forward what you can do with the diploma you have just earned,” Bharara said to the graduates. “Because what you can do is truly limitless. Because the potential power of a law degree is, I believe, unmatched in American society.”