ACLU Foundation of Southern California Honors Pro Bono Attorneys, Advocates At Annual Law Luncheon
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
LOS ANGELES – The ACLU Foundation of Southern California hosted its Eleventh Annual Law Luncheon honoring attorneys whose skill, passion and vision have significantly contributed to protecting the Bill of Rights at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Thursday.
"Whether standing up for the rights of immigrants, women, gays and lesbians, students, the poor, people's right to health care, or the separation of church and state, all of this year's honorees have done outstanding work and contributed to preserving our civil rights and civil liberties," said Ramona Ripston, executive director of the ACLU of Southern California.
This year's honorees include:
•Equal Justice Advocacy Award
Frederick Nicholas, president of The Hapsmith Company, was honored with the Equal Justice Advocacy Award for his outstanding work to promote fairness in our justice system. Through his work as community member and attorney, he has demonstrated his unwavering commitment and adherence to the ideals of equality and justice. As a founder of Public Counsel, he has had a profound effect on those who are under served or under represented by our legal system. His contributions to the legal and arts communities are a testament to the honorable ideals of community and opportunity. It is a great honor to present Frederick Nicholas with the Equal Justice Advocacy Award.
•Criminal Justice Award
The Criminal Justice Award was presented to Tillman J. Breckenridge, Alycia Degen, Steven A. Ellis, Rebecca Goldstein, Mark E. Haddad, Jin W. Han and Dov A. Waisman of Sidley Austin Brown & Wood. Their determination to correct the faults in California's Three Strikes law by supporting Proposition 66 demonstrated their allegiance to the principles of justice and fairness. Their extensive research and analysis helped uncover the numerous injustices in this law, and for that, California is grateful to them. Although unsuccessful on the ballot, the principles behind Proposition 66 survive as long as estimable firms like Sidley Austin Brown & Wood continue to serve California.
•Religious Liberty Award
Audrey Huang, Zak Smith, and Scott Miller, associates and partner of Bingham McCutchen, received the Religious Liberty Award for their adherence to religious freedom in the lawsuit on behalf of Billy Soza Warsoldier. Their tenacity and legal skill helped protect a form of freedom that is fundamental to our Bill of Rights and our experience as Americans. Their contributions are invaluable to the ACLU and to the integrity of our Constitution. We are proud to honor Audrey Huang, Zak Smith and Scott Miller with the Religious Liberty Award.
•Distinguished Professor Award
It is an honor to present UCLA School of Law Professor Cheryl Harris, an expert in civil rights, with this year's Distinguished Professor Award. As an educator, civil rights activist, and international policy-maker, she is truly a model of success and activism in today's world. Her contributions to the next generation of legal minds has been great, as her work is an exemplary model for all others to follow. Her contributions will continue to inspire as she demonstrates that there is no inequality too small and no injustice too insignificant to merit redress. It is an honor to present Cheryl Harris with our Distinguished Professor Award.
•LGBT Award
Rick Baker, of Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy, was honored with our Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Award for his outstanding commitment in combating prejudice and discrimination. In the case of Ramirez v. LAUSD, he fought tirelessly to end intolerance of gay and lesbian students in our city's schools. Like the freedom fighters of an earlier generation, the students he represented suffered from a like injustice. His work helped bring to light the enduring problem of prejudice, and his commitment to equality and tolerance is truly worthy of great praise. It is our honor to present Rick Baker with the LGBT Award for all of his efforts.
•Education Advocacy Award
Michael Feuer, of Morrison & Foerster, is most deserving of the Education Advocacy Award for promoting equality for children, seniors, and families. He saw to the settlement and successful implementation of the Williams v. California lawsuit, a case which holds the state of California responsible for the education and well-being of its students. The precedent set by this case will profoundly affect millions of schoolchildren who would have otherwise suffered from neglect and indifference. For his dedication to the principle of universal equality, it is our honor to present him with the Education Advocacy Award.
•Pro Bono Civil Rights Award
The Pro Bono Civil Rights Award was presented to Meredith Moss and Mark Neubauer of Alschuler Grossman Stein & Kahan. They championed for fairness in healthcare in their efforts in the Harris v. Los Angeles Board of Supervisors lawsuit. Their outstanding commitment was driven by their efforts toward justice as they championed for the rights of the elderly and the severely ill. Their time and unmatched expertise provides a model for others to follow in their footsteps. They have provided an invaluable service to the community they served and also to the legal community who are sure to follow in their legacy of generosity. We are most proud to present Meredith Moss and Mark Neubauer with the Pro Bono Civil Rights Award.
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