Brandeis Medal Explained

The Brandeis Medal is awarded to individuals whose lives reflect United States Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis' commitment to the ideals of individual liberty, concern for the disadvantaged and public service.

The medal is awarded by the University of Louisville's Louis D. Brandeis Society, and is given in tribute to Brandeis, a former U.S. Supreme Court justice from Louisville and the namesake university's law school.

Past recipients

• 1983: Harry Blackmun, Supreme Court Justice^[1]
• 1985: Charles M. Allen, Kentucky judge^[2]
• 1987: John Palmore, Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice^[3]
• 1991: Morris Dees, civil rights lawyer^[4]
• 1992: Sandra Day O'Connor, Supreme Court Justice^[5]
• 1995: Robert Morgenthau, District Attorney of New York County^[6]
• 1998: Stephen Bright, lawyer^[7]
• 1999: Abner Mikva, Congressman, judge, and legal scholar^[8]
• 2000: John Lewis, Congressman^[9]
• 2001: Samuel Dash, lawyer and professor^[10]
• 2002: Janet Reno, United States Attorney General^[11]
• 2003: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court Justice^[12]
• 2004: Stephen Breyer, Supreme Court Justice^[13]
• 2005: Howard Baker, Senator^[14]
• 2008: Linda Greenhouse, Supreme Court journalist^[15]
• 2010: Melvin I. Urofsky, Brandeis biographer^[16]
• 2013: John Paul Stevens, Supreme Court Justice^[17]
• 2014: Eugene Robinson, journalist^[18]
• 2015: Arthur R. Miller, legal scholar^[19]
• 2016: Elena Kagan, Supreme Court Justice^[20]
• 2019: Bob Woodward, journalist^[21]
• 2023: Sherrilyn Ifill, lawyer^[22]

Other recipients include Senator Chris Dodd, Shirley Hufstedler, Archibald Cox, A. Leon Higginbotham Jr., and Charles Ogletree.

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky . 15 September 1983 .
2. Web site: The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky . 13 April 1985 .
3. News: John Palmore, Brandeis Law alum and influential Kentucky Supreme Court leader, dies at age 99 — Louis D. Brandeis School of Law .
4. Web site: The Winchester Sun from Winchester, Kentucky . 11 April 1991 .
5. News: Statement on the death of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor — Louis D. Brandeis School of Law .
6. Web site: SECURITY Spring 2004 D I R e C T OR - ASIS International New .
7. Book: Protecting the Innocent: Proposals to Reform the Death Penalty : Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventh Congress, Second Session, June 18, 2002 . 2003 . U.S. Government Printing Office . 978-0-16-070168-9 .
8. https://archivescatalog.library.louisville.edu/archival_objects/brandeis_medal_-_judge_mikva_april_1999
9. News: Louisville Law remembers legacy, mourns loss of Rep. John Lewis — Louis D. Brandeis School of Law .
10. News: Brandeis' only granddaughter dies at age 90 — Louis D. Brandeis School of Law .
11. https://www.mrt.com/news/article/Reno-Honored-at-Univ-of-Louisville-7756031.php
12. News: Reflecting on the legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg — Louis D. Brandeis School of Law .
13. https://supremecourthistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SCHS-Quarterly-2004-Vol-3.pdf
14. Web site: University of Louisville :: News Releases :: HOWARD BAKER TO RECEIVE U OF LíS BRANDEIS MEDAL . https://web.archive.org/web/20060902150604/http://php.louisville.edu/advancement/ocm/news/release.php?relid=510 . 2006-09-02 .
15. Web site: Mel Urofsky to Receive the Brandeis Medal . 15 March 2010 .
16. Web site: Mel Urofsky to Receive the Brandeis Medal . 15 March 2010 .
17. Web site: Supreme Court Justice Stevens to receive Brandeis Medal | UofL News .
18. https://louisville.edu/communityengagement/Upcoming%20Events/brandeis-medal-presentation-and-dinner
19. News: NYU Professor Arthur Miller named 2015 Brandeis Medal recipient — Louis D. Brandeis School of Law .
20. News: Justice Elena Kagan awarded Brandeis Medal — Louis D. Brandeis School of Law .
21. Web site: 2019 Brandeis Medal: Bob Woodward .
22. Web site: Louis D. Brandeis School of Law . https://web.archive.org/web/20221024070553/https://louisville.edu/law/events/brandeis-medal/2023 . 2022-10-24 .