ABA News Washington, D.C. professor to receive ABA Robert F. Drinan Award

The American Bar Association Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice will honor Washington, D.C., attorney and professor Stephen J. Wermiel with its Robert F. Drinan Award on Feb. 2 during the ABA Midyear Meeting at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in Vancouver. The Robert F. Drinan Award for Distinguished Service is the highest award given for service by the section and honors those who have been loyal to the section and strengthens its mission to provide leadership to the legal profession. "Steve's contribution to the work of the section has been enormous," said Robert N. Weiner, chair of the Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice. "He is a passionate and effective advocate for civil rights and social justice, and in particular for freedom of speech. But more than just advocating fairness and openness, more than just promoting civil rights, Steve lives his principles. The example he sets makes the rest of us try harder." Wermiel is a professor at American University Washington College of Law, where he teaches Practice in Constitutional Law and elements of the Program on Law and Government. As the past chair of the ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice, Wermiel writes a monthly column, SCOTUSblog, in which he explains the Supreme Court and its actions to law students. Wermiel has co-authored two books, "Justice Brennan: Liberal Champion" and "The Progeny: Justice William J. Brennan's Fight to Preserve the Legal of New York Times v. Sullivan." He is an adviser and was the past associate director of a program at the Washington College of Law that teaches constitutional law to public high school children, the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project. He also serves as the faculty advisor to the Moot Court Honor Society and serves on two advisory boards including the Administrative Law Review and the Journal of Gender, Social Policy and Law. Wermiel is a graduate of Tufts University and he earned his J.D. from the Washington College of Law. Published: Tue, Jan 30, 2018