Nationally renowned Attorney Richard Victor, (left) a 1975 DCL graduate, was honored at the Law College’s Commencement Ceremonies on Saturday, June 3, with the 2000 MSU-DCL Distinguished Alumni Award.

Victor, a frequent guest on national news programs such as NBC-TV’s Today Show, ABC-TV’s Good Morning America, CNN Crossfire, and National Public Radio, has helped change the face of grandparents’ and childrens’ rights laws in the U.S.

He is the founder and executive director of the National Grandparents’ Rights Organization. Through this, he has received international recognition for his work in advancing grandparents’ legal visitation rights. He has also written numerous publications and given speeches on this subject as well.

Victor, a founding partner in the law firm Victor and Robbins of Bloomfield Hills, has received numerous honors for his work including the State Bar of Michigan Lifetime Achievement Award and the "Meritorious Service to the Children of America Award," presented by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.

Among the many high profile cases he has handled, he is most often recognized for representing "Baby Jessica" DeBoer.

At the Commencement Ceremonies, Victor offered personal reflection on the "Baby Jessica" case.

"Although I received quite a bit of acclaim for that case, the thing I remember most is that I barely saw my family through the whole thing," he said. "In my mind and my heart, my family is my number one client."