Champions of Justice

Champions of Justice Awards 2023

Our Roots of Justice Gala Dinner and Champions of Justice Awards Ceremony was held at Inner Temple on 16 November. We launched the 'Access to Justice' Bursary in memory of Mark George KC and announced the winners of our 2023 awards.

We celebrated the remarkable pro bono efforts made by law firms and individual volunteers to uphold justice in the US death penalty system on November 16th, 2023. This year, we were excited to introduce a brand new category: 'academic team.' Whether it's an outstanding individual, a dedicated law firm, or a remarkable academic team, we invited you to nominate those who had gone above and beyond in their pursuit of justice. You helped us recognise their unwavering dedication and exceptional talent by submitting your nominations. Together, we honoured their remarkable work and dedication to ensuring justice for all.

Our Champions of Justice 2023
*winners in bold

Champions of Justice - Law Firm Category:

Arthur Cox

CS Disco

Kingsley Napley

Milbank

Linklaters

Reed Smith

Champions of Justice - Academic Team Category:

The City Law School

University of Law

Southampton University

Champions of Justice - Individual Category:

Sherif Azer (Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms)

Daniel Leng (Metro Capital Defenders)

Pan Papakyprianou (Linklaters)

Amina Flynn and Eleanor Healy-Birt (Slaughter and May)

Andrew Lee Jones Award:
Maddie Steele

Previous events

Champions of Justice Awards 2021

Thursday 2nd December, 7-9pm via Zoom

THIS EVENT IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED OUR ANNUAL AWARDS!

Join Amicus for our virtual GALA where we look at the future of Racial Justice and The Death Penalty, while celebrating Amicus Champions of Justice Awards, recognising the amazing work our supporters and affiliate firms have contributed to in this area.

Henderson Hill, a leading figure in the defence of civil rights today and senior attorney at ACLU, in conversation with Robin Maher, internationally renowned death penalty expert and former Director of The American Bar Association (ABA) Death Penalty Representation Project.

The event will also include the launch of the audiobook, If I Should Die, which features some very special guest voices including Olivier Award winner Jamie Parker, and joining us live, director/actor, Ako Mitchell. And more to be announced soon!

Hear these inspirational speakers and how Amicus and our affiliates are making real changes.

Awards Selection Panel 2021

This year, we are honoured that the following distinguished experts have agreed to form the Award Selection Panel:

Professor Robin Maher (Chair)

George Washington University, former Director of the ABA Death Penalty Representation Project and Amicus Patron

David Barnes

Chief Executive of Atkins Chambers and former Chair of the Institute of Barristers’ Clerks

David Bentley QC

Doughty Street Chambers

Leslie Thomas QC

Garden Court Chambers

About the Awards

The first annual Amicus Champions of Justice awards were presented on 7th Nov. 2019 at Bush House in London. On this evening, Amicus recognised the exceptional contributions from one firm and from one individual to Amicus’ work during the year. Nominations were either self-nominations or nominations by a third party.

The 2019 nominated firms and individuals have made significant contributions to Amicus’ work this year, as have the many, many other firms and individuals who were not nominated but who have also worked ceaselessly during 2019 to help the fight for justice on death row.

Without you, our work would not be possible. Thank you.

Champions of Justice Awards 2020

2020 Champions of Justice Award & '40 Years to Freedom' panel event

40 Years To Freedom marks the release of Bobby Moore earlier this year after 40 years on Texas Death Row, and highlights the nature of the work of our lawyers and volunteers. We will kick off the event with an exciting live panel, whose members will be presenting their deeply personal and legal stories spanning 30 years of fighting for justice through the courts, up to the Supreme Court of the United States (twice). Supported by many teams of dedicated pro bono lawyers over the years, the panel will discuss what this seminal case meant to the people involved on the frontline and to Bobby himself. Not only was Bobby’s life saved and he was finally released, but the case, and the fight, created an instrumental change for those with an intellectual disability facing a death sentence in the USA. Hear these inspirational individual stories which are guaranteed to give you and your firm a pro bono morale boost.

Our amazing panel:

Bobby Moore: his case is the current leading Supreme Court of the United States ruling, saving many people facing the death penalty. Hear from the man behind the case, who spent 40 years on death row. Speaking live from Texas as a free man.
Cliff Sloan: the leading expert, famous for his constitutional and Supreme Court of the United States work and also represented Bobby Moore, author, attorney and passionate pro bono champion will talk to us about what it meant to work on Bobby's case.
Joanne Cross: took over supporting Bobby after her mother, Bobby's penpal died. Fighting for Bobby her whole professional life, pushing his case forward, she will talk about the personal journey and their friendship.
Luke Varley: when he was sent by Amicus to TX in 2011 fresh out of law school, Luke would not have believed he would be representing that same death row inmate in the Supreme Court of the United States almost a decade later. Luke shares his amazing Amicus journey.