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Death Penalty Fairness Advocate Wins 2010 Morris Dees Justice Award

A lawyer who has worked tirelessly to correct systemic injustice in death penalty litigation in the United States has been selected as the winner of the 2010 Morris Dees Justice Award.

A lawyer who has worked tirelessly to correct systemic injustice in death penalty litigation in the United States has been selected as the winner of the 2010 Morris Dees Justice Award.

Larry Hammond, founder and chair of the Arizona Justice Project and creator of the Center for Forensic Science and Public Policy at the American Judicature Society, will be presented the award during a Nov. 18 reception at the Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom law offices in New York City.

The renowned international law firm partnered with the University of Alabama School of Law in 2006 to create the award in honor of Dees, an Alabama graduate, for his lifelong dedication to public service. It is given annually to a lawyer who has devoted his or her career to serving the public interest and pursuing justice, and whose work has brought about positive change in the community, state or nation.

The first award recipient, in 2006, was now-deceased U.S. District Judge William Wayne Justice of the Eastern District of Texas. The 2007 winner was Arthur N. Read, general counsel for Friends of Farmworkers Inc., based in Philadelphia. The 2008 award went to Cheryl Little, executive director of the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center in Miami. Last year’s award recipient was Gordon Bonnyman, a health care advocate who co-founded the Tennessee Justice Center. More information about the award is available at www.morrisdeesaward.com.