Established by the American Bar Association and the Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice (formerly the Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities) in 2001, the Robert F. Drinan, Jr., Award for Distinguished Service is named in honor of the late Father Robert F. Drinan, a former member of Congress and a founding member of the Section. The award recognizes individuals whose sustained and extraordinary commitment to the Section has advanced its mission of providing leadership to the legal profession in protecting and advancing human rights, civil liberties, and social justice.
Award Recipients
Robert F. Drinan Award for Distinguished Service
Past Recipients
- 2001 Father Robert F. Drinan
- 2002 John H. Pickering
- 2003 John J. Curtin, Jr.
- 2004 Marna S. Tucker
- 2005 Hon. Cruz Reynoso
- 2006 Jerome J. Shestack
- 2007 Talbot “Sandy” D’Alemberte
- 2008 Martha Barnett
- 2009 Michael S. Greco
- 2010 Llewelyn G. Pritchard
- 2011 Roy A. Hammer
- 2012 Brooksley E. Born
- 2013 Stephen F. Hanlon
- 2014 Ronald J. Tabak
- 2015 Walter H. White, Jr.
- 2016 Estelle H. Rogers
- 2017 Myles V. Lynk
- 2018 Stephen J. Wermiel
- 2019 Mark D. Agrast
- 2020 Robert N. Weiner
- 2021 C. Elisia Frazier
- 2022 Jerry Gardner
- 2023 Kay H. Hodge
- 2024 Drucilla Stender Ramey
- 2025 Richard Soden