Champions of Justice Awards 2024
Amicus is delighted to announce our upcoming concert and awards, hosted at the iconic Old Bailey Grand Hall on 12 November 2024 at 6pm: the exciting concert is the award-winning work of Keith LaMar - calling in live from Ohio’s death row - and Albert Marquès, and, for this performance, features the legendary Grammy award-winning saxophonist Jean Toussaint.
Keith LaMar has become an inspiring advocate for justice through his collaboration with renowned jazz pianist Albert Marquès. Despite being on death row for nearly three decades, Keith has used his voice to speak out against the injustices of the death penalty system, collaborating with Albert to create music that resonates with themes of freedom, resilience and hope. Their performances have garnered international attention, not only for their musical brilliance but also for their powerful message about the human spirit's capacity to overcome even the harshest circumstances. The concert at Old Bailey Grand Hall - their first concert in the UK - will be a moving tribute to their work, surely an opportunity not to miss.
We will welcome attendees to the initial drinks and canapés Reception at 6pm, after which at 7pm (to 7.55pm) Amicus is presenting the UK premiere of Freedom First. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy more reception-hospitality, before the 2024 Amicus Champions of Justice Awards ceremony begins at 8.30pm, recognising and celebrating the amazing work of our pro bono volunteers and the invaluable contributions which they make to our work. After the ceremony ends, and while attendees continue to enjoy hospitality, there will be an exciting Auction (which will include ‘money-cannot-buy’ items) and the prize draw for the Raffle.
This will be an exclusive and memorable occasion, filled with entertainment, celebration and opportunities to support Amicus’ vital work.
CONCERT TICKETS: These give you access to the whole evening’s programme, including the Reception, Concert, Awards Ceremony, Auction and Raffle.
COURT ONE TICKETS: A small number of extremely special tickets that - on top of everything included in our Concert Tickets - also include an exclusive tour of Court One and The Cells, led by the Old Bailey’s very own Jay Patel.
UPGRADE YOUR TICKET: while "court one" tickets are not available for sale, if you book your ticket before 15th October, you will be entered into a raffle to get your ticket upgraded to one.
Click below on the ticket-box you would like to buy in order to purchase your ticket
Please submit your completed nomination form, along with all supporting documentation to admin@amicus-alj.org.
Application Deadline: 13 October 2024 at 23:59
Nomination forms:
Nominees and Winners
*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
Awards Selection Panel
Nominees and Winners
*winners in bold
Champions of Justice - Law Firm Category
Allen & Overy
BCLP
Dentons
Kingsley Napley
Linklaters
Milbank
Reed Smith
Withers
Champions of Justice - Individual Category
Gabrielle Darden (Regional Conflict Counsel Region 1)
Stas Kuzmierkiewicz (Baker McKenzie)
Olivia Loxley (Linklaters LLP)
Awards Selection Panel
Nominees and Winners
*winners in bold
Champions of Justice - Law Firm Category
Arthur Cox
BCLP
Dentons
Milbank
Morgan Lewis
Shearman & Sterling
Champions of Justice - Individual Category
Claire Butler (Simmons & Simmons)
Maddie Steele (Unity Street Chambers)
Shelagh Kenney (Center for Death Penalty Litigation (CDPL))
Awards 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
Nominees and Winners
*winners in bold
Champions of Justice - Law Firm Category
Champions of Justice - Academic Team Category
Champions of Justice - Individual Category
Andrew Lee Jones Award
Awards Selection 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.
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.
The winners of Amicus' Champions of Justice 2020 were:
Champion Individual
The recipient of this Award was Poppy Mulligan.
Andrew Lee Jones Award
The recipient of this Award was Linzi McDonald.
Champion Firm
The recipient of this Award was Eversheds Sutherland LLP
Champions of Justice Awards 2019
Awards Selection Panel 2019
In 2019, Amicus was honoured that the following distinguished experts 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
Professor Carolyn Hoyle
University of Oxford Centre for Criminology and former Centre Director
Leslie Thomas QC
Joint Head of Garden Court Chambers
2019 Awards Photo Gallery
