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ACLU Foundation of Southern California Honors MacArthur Genius Bryan Stevenson and Pro Bono Attorneys at 7th Annual Law Luncheon

Thursday, March 22, 2001

LOS ANGELES - The ACLU Foundation of Southern California holds its Seventh Annual Law Luncheon on Thursday, April 12, 2001, at 11:30 a.m. at the Regal Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

Every year, the ACLU Foundation Law Luncheon recognizes the dedication, courage and skill of attorneys who defend the civil rights and civil liberties embodied in the Bill of Rights. This year, the ACLU Foundation honors Bryan Stevenson, Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative of Alabama; Carol Sobel, First Amendment defender; Fred Okrand, Legal Director Emeritus of the ACLU Foundation of Southern California; Joanna Joyce Weiss and Geoffrey L. Thomas from Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker; Johnny Griggs from Sidley & Austin; Michael A. Jacobs, Jack W. Londen, Matthew I. Kreeger, Lois K. Perrin, Amy M. Kott, Anthony L. Press, Benjamin J. Fox and Christina L. Checel from Morrison & Foerster; Michael Diamond and Kenneth Ostrow from Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy and Maurice A. Leiter, Shauna Weeks and Jennifer L. Cummings from Arnold & Porter.

"All of our honorees have displayed tremendous commitment to the cause of defending liberty and fighting for equality," said Ramona Ripston, Executive Director of the ACLU/SC. "When you're trying to move a boulder, you have to apply some leverage, and that's exactly what our honorees have been doing with tremendous energy and strength as we move this country forward together toward greater equality and freedom. We're proud to work with them and are inspired by their invaluable contributions to the work we undertake with them."

Bryan Stevenson and his staff have been successful in overturning dozens of capital murder cases and death sentences where poor people have been unconstitutionally convicted or sentenced. His efforts to confront bias against the poor and people of color in the criminal justice system have won him national recognition as one of the top public interest lawyers in the country and earned him dozens of national awards, including the MacArthur Foundation "Genius Award."

Carol Sobel, a successful First Amendment and women's rights defender, will be awarded the Pro Bono Civil Liberties Award for her work in defending protesters' right to gather and engage in free speech during the Democratic National Convention. Prior to becoming a sole civil rights practitioner, Sobel dedicated 20 years to the ACLU of Southern California as a staff member.

Fred Okrand served as the ACLU of Southern California Legal Director for over four decades and as an advisor for 15 more. Okrand was counsel for more than 500 reported civil liberties cases including those dealing with the Pasadena and Los Angeles school desegregation cases as well as the internment of Japanese residents during World War II.

Joanna Joyce Weiss and Geoffrey L. Thomas, from Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, will be awarded the First Amendment Award for their work on the Burkow "For Sale" sign case,which successfully challenged the constitutionality of a Los Angeles ordinance that made it illegal to post a for-sale or for-lease sign on a vehicle that is parked on public streets in Los Angeles.

Johnny Griggs, from Sidley & Austin, will be honored for his work on the Gonzalez case, which challenges the Los Angeles Police Department for its unlawful racial profiling of motorists.

Michael A. Jacobs, Jack W. Londen, Matthew I. Kreeger, Lois K. Perrin, Amy M. Kott, Anthony L. Press, Benjamin J. Fox and Christina L. Checel, lead a team of lawyers from Morrison & Foerster, who will be recognized for their work on the education adequacy case, Williams, on behalf of California public school children who are deprived of such basic and necessary learning tools as books, trained teachers, and seats for students.

Michael Diamond and Kenneth Ostrow, from Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy will be awarded for their work on the Crespo case, representing members of the media who were attacked by the Los Angeles Police Department during the Democratic National Convention.

Maurice A. Leiter, Shauna Weeks and Jennifer L. Cummings, from Arnold & Porter, will be honored for their work on the Romero case which, on behalf of the Montebello Ponytail Girls' Softball Association, challenges the City of Montebello's discriminatory allocation of public playing fields to girls.

Individuals interested in attending the event should call Rachel Hall at (213) 977-9500 ext. 267.

Journalists interested in attending the event should contact the ACLU public policy team at (213) 977-5252.

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