"David Carliner was a tremendous advocate for human rights. He was ahead of his time and met incredible resistance for the work he did. We have all benefitted from his courageous work."
- Cathleen Caron, 2010 recipient of the Award
The American Constitution Society's David Carliner Public Interest Award was established in memory of one of the great public interest lawyers of the 20th Century, David Carliner (1918-2007), a champion of justice in his native Washington, D.C. and on the national stage. A tireless, innovative litigator, he also played a leading role in building institutions devoted to protecting civil and human rights and combating injustice on a systemic basis. A pioneering immigration lawyer, an ardent foe of Jim Crow, and a leading champion of full political rights for citizens of the District of Columbia, he also was the founding chair of the American Civil Liberties Union-National Capital Area and the International Human Rights Law Group (now GlobalRights). For more information on David Carliner click here.
The Award recognizes outstanding mid-career public interest lawyers whose work best exemplifies its namesake’s legacy of fearless, uncompromising and creative advocacy on behalf of marginalized people.
David Carliner (1918-2007)
The Award consists of:
- Cash prize of $10,000 to one recipient each year
- Transportation and lodging, in full, to the ACS National Convention in Washington to accept the Award in person
To be considered for the 2012 Award, applicants must:
- Have graduated from law school between May 2000 and May 2005;
- Have demonstrated a passionate commitment to public interest law throughout their career and be employed at a nonprofit organization, government entity, or law firm whose mission supports and furthers the causes for which David Carliner stood; and
- Receive an annual salary of $110,000 or less.
Applicants will be evaluated on the extent to which their accomplishments exemplify David Carliner’s passionate commitment to one or more of the causes for which he worked: civil rights in a broad sense, civil liberties, international human rights and immigrants’ rights. Successful applicants will have pursued these causes with unwavering determination, creativity and effectiveness and be dedicated to working in the public interest throughout their careers.
Applicants whose work has focused on policy advocacy or litigation will be looked on with equal favor.
In keeping with the legacy of David Carliner, whose career was devoted to achieving a just and inclusive society for all, women, people of color, people with disabilities and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are encouraged to apply.
Finalists may be announced at the discretion of the judges. Applicants will be informed of their status in the spring.
To apply, please submit the following no later than March 12th, 2012:
- A cover sheet that can be downloaded here and should be emailed with the other materials;
- A resume or CV;
- An essay of no more than 1500 words double spaced setting forth the applicant's qualifications for the award and including a statement that the applicant’s annual salary is $110,000 or less; and
- A letter of recommendation from a person familiar with the applicant's work and the criteria for the Award. The most helpful recommendation letter will explain and describe the applicant's creativity, boldness, and effectiveness in the context of the area of law, policy, or social movement in which he or she works. Applications should not include more than one letter of recommendation.
Applications must be submitted via email to CarlinerAward@ACSLaw.org. All four documents must be in PDF form and attached to a single email message. Incomplete applications and nominations will not be considered.
Applications for the 2012 Award must be received by 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday, March 12, 2012.
In determining the recipient of the 2012 Award, ACS will be advised by a panel of judges including:
- Nan Aron, Executive Director, Alliance for Justice
- William Fletcher, Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- Wade Henderson, President and CEO, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
- Patricia Wald, Former Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and Former Judge, International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
- Deborah Carliner, Attorney; Vice-President, ACLU-NCA
- Jacob Remes, Assistant Professor of Public Affairs and History, SUNY Empire State College
The 2011 Award Recipient: Dori Rose Inda, Watsonville Law Center
Dori Rose Inda founded the Watsonville Law Center in 2002 after identifying a critical gap in legal services in the Watsonville, Calif. area. She has since developed an innovative health access project to ensure low-wage workers injured on the job receive legally required health and financial benefits.
The 2010 Award Recipient: Cathleen Caron, Global Workers Justice Aliance
Cathleen Caron, founder and director of Global Workers Justice Alliance, was
recognized in 2010 for her important work to combat worker exploitation and to promote transnational "portable justice" for workers around the world.
The 2010 Finalists were: Guillermo Mayer, Public Advocates Inc.; Belinda Helzer, ACLU Foundation of Southern California; Marco Simons, EarthRights International; Janson Wu, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders.
The 2009 Award Recipient: Tim Freilich, Legal Aid Justice Center
Tim Freilich serves as Legal Director of the Immigrant Advocacy Program at the Legal Aid Justice Center in Charlottesville, VA. Under his direction, the program works to support day laborers and other low-wage immigrant workers in the region and promotes justice and fair treatment in the workplace.
The 2009 Finalists were: Ahilan Arulanantham, ACLU of Southern California; Mónica Ramírez, Southern Poverty Law Center; Shirin Sinnar, Asian Law Caucus; McGregor Smyth, The Bronx Defenders.
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"David Carliner; Active in Unpopular Causes," The Washington Post (Sept. 23, 2007)
"David Carliner, Lawyer and Immigration Advocate Is Dead at 89," The New York Times (Sept. 22, 2007)
"Immigrant Advocate Freilich Wins Public Interest Award," Daily Progress (June 21, 2009)
"Seeking Lawyers Who Get the Dirt Out," ACSblog, guest post by Jacob Remes (January 17, 2012)