2024 AWARDS DINNER: The Rose Elizabeth Bird Commitment to Justice Award: Natasha Minsker / Presented by Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon • The Justice in the Arts Award: Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally (posthumously accepted by Tom Kirdahy) / Presented by Sister Helen Prejean • The Mario Cuomo Acts of Courage Award: Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington / Presented by Jane Fonda •
2023 AWARDS DINNER: The Mario Cuomo Acts of Courage Award: PA Gov. Josh Shapiro / Presented by Reiss Clauson-Wolf • The Abolition Award: Diann Rust-Tierney / Presented by Mike Farrell • The Rose Elizabeth Bird Commitment to Justice Award: Paula Mitchell, Andy Wilson, and Maurice Hastings / Presented by Mike Farrell • The Justice in the Arts Award: Elizabeth Bruenig / Presented by Caitlin Flanagan •
2022 AWARDS EVENT (VIRTUAL): Abolition Award: Virginia Abolition Movement Leaders / Presented by Joe Giarratano • The Mario Cuomo Acts of Courage Award: Sen. Dick Durbin & Rep. Ayanna Pressley / Presented by Sen. Bernie Sanders • International Abolition Award: The Hon Robert Badinter / Presented by the Consul General of France Julie Duhaut-Bedos •
2021 AWARDS EVENT (VIRTUAL): Abolition Award: Michael Radelet / Presented by Sr. Helen Prejean • The Rose Elizabeth Bird Commitment to Justice Award: Bryan Stevenson / Presented by Mike Farrell • Human Rights Award: Rabbi Sharon Brous / Presented by Rep. Karen Bass •
2020 AWARDS DINNER: DUE TO PANDEMIC, NO EVENT WAS HELD •
2019 AWARDS DINNER: The Mario Cuomo Acts of Courage Award: Mike Farrell / Presented by Peggy Farrell • Abolition Award: Hon. Renny Cushing / Presented by Beth Webb • Lifetime Achievement Award: Anthony Amsterdam / Presented by: Seth Waxman and Ed Redlich • The Rose Elizabeth Bird Commitment to Justice Award: The late Justice Stevens / Accepted by Larry Marshall •
2018 AWARDS EVENT: Lifetime Achievement Award: Rev. James Lawson •
2017 AWARDS DINNER: 2017 Abolition Award: Senator Bernie Sanders / Presented by: Jane Sanders • Mario Cuomo Acts of Courage of Award: Judy Clarke and Speedy Rice / Presented by: Sr. Helen Prejean • Justice in the Arts Award: Joan Baez / Presented by: Mike Farrell •
2016 AWARDS DINNER: 2016 Abolition Award: Sir Richard Branson / Presented by Van Jones • Norman Felton and Denise Abuchon Humanitarian Award: Dolores Huerta • Justice in the Arts and Media: Jackson Browne / Presented by Joan Baez •
2015 AWARDS DINNER: Justice in the Media Award: Alex Gibney, Bred Hebert, Laura Michalchyshyn on behalf of Death Row Stories • 2015 Abolition Award: Dale Baich, Assistant Federal Public Defender • Lifetime Achievement Award: Rabbi Leonard Beerman • The Rose Elizabeth Bird Commitment to Justice Award: Death row exonerees Kwame Ajamu, Wiley Bridgeman, and Ricky Jackson along with their attorneys Terry Gilbert, Mark Godsey, Brian Howe and David Mills •
2014 AWARDS DINNER: Mario Cuomo Acts of Courage Award: The Honorable Martin O’Malley, Governor of Maryland • Human Rights Award: Juan E. Mendez, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture • Lifetime Achievement Award: Michael Millman, Executive Director of the California Appellate Project • Justice in the Arts Award: Peter Sarsgaard and Veena Sud, on behalf of The Cast and Crew of “The Killing” •
2013 AWARDS DINNER: Human Rights Award: Norman Felton (posthumously) • The Norman Felton and Denise Abuchon Humanitarian Award: Javier Stauring • The 2013 Abolition Award: Proposition 34 Leaders, represented by: Natasha Minsker, Obie Anthony, Arnold & Porter, LLP/ Steven L. Mayer, Ron Briggs, California Catholic Conference, Franky Carrillo, Gil Garcetti, Miriam Gerace, Donald Heller, Paula Mitchell, SEIU Local 721, Steve Smith, Bethany Webb • Justice in the Arts Award: James Cromwell •
2012 AWARDS DINNER: Justice in the Arts Award: MC Hammer • The Rose Elizabeth Bird Commitment to Justice Award: Denise Foderaro Quattrone • The Norman Felton and Denise Abuchon Humanitarian Award: Father Gregory Boyle • The 2012 Abolition Award: The West Memphis 3: Jason Baldwin, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley • The 2012 Abolition Award: The West Memphis 3 Defense Team: Patrick Benca, Stephen Braga, Michael Burt, Blake Hendrix, Donald Horgan, John Phillipsborn, Dennis Riordan, Jeff Rosenzweig, Deborah Sallings, Lonnie Soury and Lorri Davis, leader of the movement to free the West Memphis 3 •
2011 AWARDS DINNER: Justice in the Arts Award: Hilary Swank • The Mario Cuomo Acts of Courage Award: Lance Lindsey • The Rose Elizabeth Bird Commitment to Justice Award: Thomas Schlamme • The Norman Felton and Denise Aubuchon Humanitarian Award: The Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange • Abolition Award: Death Penalty Clinic at University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (Elisabeth Semel & Ty Alper) • Human Rights Award: Stephen Bright • Courageous Leadership Award: The Honorable Pat Quinn, Governor of Illinois •
2010 AWARDS DINNER: Justice in the Arts Award: Alec Baldwin • The Mario Cuomo Acts of Courage Award: Paul Haggis • The Rose Elizabeth Bird Commitment to Justice Award: Sherry & Leo Frumkin • The Norman Felton and Denise Aubuchon Humanitarian Award: Sister Suzanne Jabro, CSJ • 2010 Abolition Award: Richard Dieter •
2009 AWARDS DINNER: The Mike Farrell Human Rights Award: New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson • The Mario Cuomo Acts of Courage Award: Jeanne Woodford • The Rose Elizabeth Bird Commitment to Justice Award: John Van de Kamp • Justice in the Arts Award: Nancy Miller • The Norman Felton and Denise Aubuchon Humanitarian Award: Bryan Stevenson • 2009 Abolition Award: Nick McKeown •
2008 AWARDS DINNER: The Mike Farrell Human Rights Award: Sid Sheinberg • The Mario Cuomo Acts of Courage: Julian Bond • The Rose Elizabeth Bird Commitment to Justice Award: Sarah Timberman and Ed Redlich • Justice in the Arts: John Grisham • Special Recognition for Outstanding Achievement on behalf of Social Justice: Melody Ermachild, Henry Weinstein, and Dr. Arthur Zitrin • The Norman Felton and Denise Aubuchon Humanitarian Award: Azim Khamisa • 2008 Abolition Award: New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine and New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty •
2007 AWARDS DINNER: The Norman Felton and Denise Aubuchon Humanitarian Award: Robert Greenwald • The Mike Farrell Human Rights Award: Senator George McGovern • The Rose Elizabeth Bird Commitment to Justice Award: Max Palevsky and Jodie Evans • Justice in the Arts: David E. Kelley • The Mario Cuomo Acts of Courage: Kamala D. Harris • 2007 Abolition Award: Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton •
2006 AWARDS DINNER: 2006 Abolition Award: Barry Scheck • Justice in Media and the Arts Award: Carl Reiner • The Norman Felton and Denise Aubuchon Humanitarian Award: Rev. George Regas • The Mario Cuomo Acts of Courage Award: Dorothy Ehrlich • The Rose Elizabeth Bird Commitment to Justice Award: Vicki Riskin and David W. Rintels • Lifetime Achievement Award: Assemblyman Mervyn M. Dymally • Special Award to Activist Exonerees: Gloria Killian, Tom Goldstein and Greg Wilhoit • The Mike Farrell Human Rights Award: Mike Farrell (Inaugural) •
2005 AWARDS DINNER: The Norman Felton and Denise Aubuchon Humanitarian Award: Bishop Henry Williamson • Justice in Media and Arts Award: Bradley Whitford and Jane Kaczmarek • 2005 Abolition Award: Senator Edward Kennedy • The Mario Cuomo Acts of Courage Award: Sister Helen Prejean • The Rose Elizabeth Bird Commitment to Justice Award: Andy and Deborah Rappaport •
2004 AWARDS DINNER: The Norman Felton and Denise Aubuchon Humanitarian Award: Aqeela Sherrills • Justice in Media and Arts Award: Robert Wise • 2004 Abolition Award: Bishop Gabino Zavala • The Mario Cuomo Acts of Courage Award: Harry Belafonte • The Rose Elizabeth Bird Commitment to Justice Award: First Lady Rosalynn Carter •
2003 AWARDS DINNER: The Norman Felton and Denise Aubuchon Humanitarian Award: Patch Adams • Justice in Media and Arts Award: Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen • 2003 Abolition Award: Ramona Ripston • The Mario Cuomo Acts of Courage Award: President of Mexico, Vicente Fox Quesada • The Rose Elizabeth Bird Commitment to Justice Award: Gov. George H. Ryan •
2002 AWARDS DINNER: The Norman Felton and Denise Aubuchon Humanitarian Award: Rev. James Lawson • Justice and Media Award: Studs Terkel • The Mario Cuomo Acts of Courage Award: Congresswoman Barbara Lee • The Rose Elizabeth Bird Commitment to Justice Award: Stanley Sheinbaum • 2002 Abolition Award: Danny Glover •
2001 AWARDS DINNER: The Aline and Norman Felton Humanitarian Award: Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation • 2001 Abolition Award: Cardinal Roger M. Mahony • The Mario Cuomo Acts of Courage Award: Gov. George H. Ryan • The Rose Elizabeth Bird Commitment to Justice Award: Aaron Sorkin, Thomas Schlamme and the Cast of The West Wing •
2000 AWARDS DINNER: 2000 Abolition Award: Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee • The Aline and Norman Felton Humanitarian Award: Rabbi Leonard Beerman • The Mario Cuomo Act of Courage Award: Senator Russ Feingold • The Rose Elizabeth Bird Commitment to Justice Award: David E. Kelley and Robert Breech and the Cast of The Practice •
1999 AWARDS DINNER: The Mario Cuomo Act of Courage Award: David Protess and Lawrence Marshall • The Aline and Norman Felton Humanitarian Award: Linda and Peter Biehl • The Rose Elizabeth Bird Commitment to Justice Award: Norman Jewison •
1998 AWARDS DINNER: 1998 Abolition Award: Senator John Burton • The Mario Cuomo Act of Courage Award: Larry Fox (on behalf of the American Bar Association) • The Rose Elizabeth Bird Commitment to Justice Award: Steven Allen • The Aline and Norman Felton Humanitarian Award: Bud Welch •
1997 AWARDS DINNER: The Aline and Norman Felton Humanitarian Award: Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird • 1997 Abolition Award: Sean Penn • The Mario Cuomo Act of Courage Award: Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. •
1996 AWARDS DINNER: 1996 Abolition Award: Rubin “Hurricane” Carter • 1996 Abolition Award: Kiefer Sutherland • The Mario Cuomo Act of Courage Award: Gov. Mario Cuomo (Inaugural) •
