Professor Stephen Wermiel Honored with 2018 Robert F. Drinan Award for Distinguished Service
The Robert F. Drinan Award has been given annually since 2001 by the American Bar Association Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice (CRSJ) and its predecessor, the Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities. Named for the former member of Congress who represented Massachusetts from 1971-1981, the award recognizes sustained involvement in the section and its mission of leading the ABA’s commitment to civil rights and liberties, and human rights. Drinan, who was also a Jesuit priest and law professor, was chair of the section from 1990 to 1991.
Professor Wermiel has been devoted to the section for 18 years, starting out as an editorial board member for the section’s quarterly magazine, Human Rights, and eventually becoming editorial chair, section vice-chair and then, from 2013-2014, chair of the section. He helped plan the section’s 50th anniversary program, held at AUWCL in 2016, has served for many years as co-chair of the First Amendment Committee and as chair for several years of the section publications committee. He has also served on the section’s amicus briefs committee, and beginning in August 2018, will be the section’s representative for three years on the ABA Board of Governors.
Click here to view Professor Wermiel's entire acceptance speech