Maxwell T. Cohen, Professor of Constitutional Law and Sociology, Northampton (PA) Community College, taught law and social problems and issues at both SUNY and CUNY. Cohen was awarded a plaque at the Newport Jazz Festival by the New York Jazz Museum for defending the civil rights of musicians and other performing artists. He was also cited and received an Award of Appreciation from the Society of Black Composers. Cohen's previous book, Race and Religion in Adoption Proceedings, was instrumental in the elimination of restrictive religious and racial laws in adoption and similar proceedings. He was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Baws by the State University of New York and an international Commendation for his work in international Human Rights by The Center for Research in Religious and Human Rights in Closed Societies.