ABA Death Penalty Representation Project

09/18/2025

Join the 2025 Volunteer Recognition & Awards Event virtually today, September 18, at 6pm ET. During the event, the Project will present awards to pro bono law firms and individual attorneys that have shown exceptional commitment to capital defense representation. This year’s guest keynote speaker is Christina Swarns, the Executive Director of the Innocence Project.
 
We hope you join us virtually! Link in bio.
https://www.youtube.com/live/0XaHv9HibKo

08/27/2025

We are honored to announce the keynote speaker for our 2025 Volunteer Recognition and Awards Event, Christina Swarns!

Christina Swarns is the Executive Director of the .For over three decades, Ms. Swarns has dedicated her career to reforming the criminal justice system and dismantling the systemic failures that lead to wrongful convictions. We are delighted to welcome her to this event and to hear her thoughts about the life-changing impact of high-quality representation in capital cases.

Join us on September 18th in Washington, DC, as we celebrate the work of our 2025 awards recipients and our pro bono attorneys and capital defender partners. Visit ambar.org/2025awards to purchase your tickets today!

08/14/2025

The 2025 Volunteer Recognition & Awards Event will be held on September 18, 2025, in Washington, DC. Tickets are now on sale and sponsorship packages are available! Visit ambar.org/2025awards to learn more!

04/14/2025

Reminder: Award Nominations Due April 25th! - https://mailchi.mp/americanbar/2025-death-penalty-representation-awards-reminder

We are currently accepting nominations for our 2025 death penalty representation awards. Please consider submitting yourself or a colleague to be recognized for their outstanding contributions to capital defense!

12/09/2024

Hundreds of stakeholders, including more than 130 civil rights, faith-based, and racial justice organizations have called upon President Biden to commute the death sentences of the 40 men on federal death row. They point to serious issues in the federal death penalty system, which mirror those in the states, such as racial bias, geographic disparity, lack of adequate defense, and unreliable forensic evidence. Learn more: https://innocenceproject.org/advocates-innocence-organizations-call-on-president-biden-to-commute-all-federal-death-sentences/

10/24/2024

Today is the day! has arrived, and you can support the right to effective representation for every person facing the death penalty by making a gift to the Death Penalty Representation Project. **Any amount is appreciated** and makes a real impact on the justice system and on the lives of those we serve.
Make your contribution now at https://givingday.americanbar.org/campaigns/death-penalty-representation-project and learn more about the work of the Project at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/committees/death_penalty_representation.html.

We are the ABA’s expert on issues related to legal representation in death penalty cases. Learn more about our work to educate the public, train defenders, recruit volunteers, and reform counsel systems.

09/10/2024

Join the 2024 Volunteer Recognition & Awards Event virtually this Thursday, September 12, at 6:30pm ET. During the event, the Project will present awards to pro bono law firms Arnold & Porter and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner and pro bono attorney Cliff Sloan, who have all shown exceptional commitment to excellence in capital defense. This year’s guest keynote speaker is the Honorable Elsa Alcala, retired judge of the TX Court of Criminal Appeals. Join us at https://youtube.com/live/FCHa3fIfoqY?feature=share and learn more about the event and this year's award winners at https://ambar.org/2024awards

08/09/2024

Announcing our 2024 Keynote Speaker! - https://mailchi.mp/americanbar/announcing-our-2024-keynote-speaker We are honored to welcome Retired Judge Elsa Alcala as the keynote speaker for the 2024 Volunteer Recognition & Awards Event! Visit ambar.org/2024awards to learn more!

06/28/2024

The ABA Death Penalty Representation Project is proud to announce the 2024 recipient of the John Paul Stevens Guiding Hand of Counsel Award, Cliff Sloan. Professor Sloan has shown remarkable contributions to improving and providing indigent capital defense.

Swipe to read more about the John Paul Stevens Guiding Hand of Counsel Award and Professor Sloan’s work.

The 2024 awards ceremony will take place on September 12th in Washington, DC, make sure to keep an eye out for tickets! You can also read the awards announcement here, https://mailchi.mp/americanbar/announcing-the-2024-pro-bono-award-recipients

06/28/2024

The ABA Death Penalty Representation Project is proud to announce the two firms that are the 2024 recipients of the Exceptional Service Award for Death Penalty Representation, Arnold & Porter and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner. These two firms have demonstrated an outstanding dedication to providing high-quality capital representation.

Swipe to read more about the Exceptional Service Award for Death Penalty Representation.

The 2024 awards ceremony will take place on September 12th in Washington, DC, make sure to keep an eye out for tickets! You can also read the awards announcement here, https://mailchi.mp/americanbar/announcing-the-2024-pro-bono-award-recipients