About the Award
The Champion of Public Defense Award recognizes a group or individual for outstanding efforts in making positive changes to a local, county, state, or national indigent defense system through legislation, litigation, or other methods.1
1 The award was named the Champion of Indigent Defense Award until February 20, 2016.
Past Recipients
| 2016 |
Alexander Bunin |
Houston, TX |
| 2013 |
Bruce Jacob |
Gulfport, FL |
| 2011 |
Justice Michael Cherry |
Carson City, NV |
| 2011 |
Bennett H. Brummer |
Miami, FL |
| 2009 |
Robert L. Spangenberg |
Boston, MA |
| 2008 |
Marshal J. Hartman |
Chicago, IL |
| 2007 |
Erwin W. Lewis |
Frankfort, KY |
| 2006 |
Robert Boruchowitz |
Seattle, WA |
| 2005 |
Prof. Norman Lefstein |
Indianapolis, IN |
| 2004 |
Patricia Puritz |
Washington, DC |
| 2003 |
Gary Parker |
Columbus, GA |
| 2002 |
Norman L. Reimer |
New York, NY |
| 2001 |
Mary Ann Tally |
Fayetteville, NC |
Nominate a Possible Recipient
To nominate a group or individual, please provide a short [1-2 page] summary of: the problems that existed in the relevant indigent defense system, the efforts made by the nominee to improve the system (i.e., coalitions formed, legislation proposed, task forces created, litigation efforts, etc.), the number of years nominee has been involved in efforts to improve indigent defense, and the changes that have been made in the system as a result of the nominee's efforts.