One of the highlights of each Annual Conference is the celebration of remarkable accomplishments across the equal justice community. In 2015, six individuals and one organization received awards during two separate ceremonies.
The Award for Justice through Philanthropy recognizes that achieving justice is not the responsibility of the legal profession alone and honors the contributions of a member of the philanthropic community to this cause.
The Champion of Justice Award honors a member of the equal justice community whose career has brought about significant expansion of access to justice.
The Charles Dorsey Award honors an individual who has provided extraordinary and dedicated service to the equal justice community and to organizations that promote improving access to justice for low-income people.
The Reginald Heber Smith Award recognizes the dedicated service and outstanding achievements of a civil legal aid or indigent defense attorney while employed by an organization supporting such services.
The Mary Ellen Hamilton Award honors a legal services client or low-income community leader who has provided extraordinary service or support to the delivery of legal assistance to low-income people.
The New Leaders in Advocacy Award honors rising attorneys who exhibit extraordinary leadership early in their careers as civil legal aid or indigent defense advocates.
The Clara Shortridge Foltz Award commends a public defender program or public defense delivery system for outstanding achievement in the provision of services to indigent defendants.