Washington, DC (August 7, 2019) - Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP received NACDL’s inaugural Champion of Justice Pro Bono Award at the NACDL Foundation for Criminal Justice (NFCJ) Gala in Philadelphia, PA, on August 2.
Skadden is being recognized for its heroic pro bono efforts in support of Clemency Project 2014, the NACDL/FAMM State Clemency Project, and NACDL’s federal and state-level efforts to combat the trial penalty, including its in-depth research and drafting of NACDL’s groundbreaking report – The Trial Penalty: The Sixth Amendment Right to Trial on the Verge of Extinction and How to Save It.
“One can always attach a dollar value to pro bono work,” said NACDL Executive Director Norman Reimer in presenting the award. “But I know the value of restoring someone to freedom – and so do all of you: it is priceless. Skadden’s pro bono work has been priceless.”
In addition to their work supporting NACDL’s clemency efforts, Skadden attorneys have provided extraordinary, pro bono amicus representation to NACDL in a variety of critically-important criminal law cases.
“NACDL is leading the charge for criminal justice reform in this country, helping to make the system more just and more reliable,” said Don Salzman, pro bono counsel at Skadden and recipient of the award on behalf of the firm. “Skadden is proud to partner with the NACDL and support its mission to identify and reform flaws and inequities in the criminal justice system.”
Contacts
Madeline Sklar, NACDL Public Affairs and Communications Assistant, (202) 465-7647 or msklar@nacdl.org.
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is the preeminent organization advancing the mission of the criminal defense bar to ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crime or wrongdoing. A professional bar association founded in 1958, NACDL's many thousands of direct members in 28 countries – and 90 state, provincial and local affiliate organizations totaling up to 40,000 attorneys – include private criminal defense lawyers, public defenders, military defense counsel, law professors and judges committed to preserving fairness and promoting a rational and humane criminal justice system.