Last updated on March 27th, 2026 at 12:46 pm
Portland, Maine – Hardy, Wolf & Downing partner Sheldon J. Tepler will be honored with the Peter J. DeTroy III Award by the Campaign for Justice on March 28 at the third annual award ceremony which will be held at the Custom House in Portland, Maine.
The award, to be presented to Tepler by Governor Janet Mills, was created in 2017 to honor DeTroy’s legacy. The award recognizes an individual who has worked to remove barriers for people who are vulnerable or who has worked to advance justice in Maine, and who exemplifies the same selfless spirit as DeTroy.
“Sheldon Tepler has, for decades, been a tireless advocate for the most underserved populations of our state,” said Devin Deane, chair of the Campaign for Justice Steering Committee. “Both legal and non-legal, personal and professional, Sheldon has poured himself into organizations and causes dedicated to the betterment of the Lewiston/Auburn community. From his pro bono work with Pine Tree Legal Assistance, including his instrumental involvement in the reopening of its Lewiston office, to Habitat for Humanity 7 Rivers, Big Brother Big Sisters of Mid-Maine, Mid-Coast Hunger Prevention, New Beginnings, Seeds of Peace, and his volunteering lawyering every other Wednesday at Lewiston District Court, Sheldon’s drive to do good has impacted so many lives. He is a true believer and lives his ideals through action every day. As Peter would say, ‘we need more people like him’ in this world. Sheldon is a leading example of what the legal professional can and should be, and The Campaign for Justice is thrilled to honor him with the Peter J. DeTroy award.”
About The Campaign for Justice: The Campaign for Justice (“the Campaign”) is an annual fundraising campaign of the Maine Justice Foundation. The Campaign raises funds from Maine’s legal community to help meet the civil legal aid needs of low-income individuals and families in need. A statewide effort, the Campaign enables six legal aid service provider organizations to provide legal advice, representation, and equality before the law. As women, children, the elderly, and the disabled make up 80% of those served by the provider organizations, the Campaign serves to protect the most vulnerable people within the state of Maine.
Tepler said of receiving the award, “I like representing the underdog. My goal is to level the field between those in power and those not in power.”
