Purpose

The Spirit of Justice Award recognizes lawyers, non-lawyers and organizations/programs that have demonstrated accomplishment, leadership and integrity in fostering and maintaining the rule of law, and in facilitating and promoting improvement of the administration of justice.

The individual, organization or program must meet one or more of the following to qualify:

• Demonstrated accomplishment, leadership and integrity in fostering and maintaining the rule of law;
• Facilitates and promotes improvement of the administration of justice;
• Exemplifies fairness and promotes the equitable treatment of individuals within a society or legal system;
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to justice, human rights and equality, with a proven track record of impactful work; or
• Upholds ethical and legal standards, shows innovation, engages with communities, and collaborates with other community leaders.

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2025

• Jason Hall
• Royal Vagabonds Inc.
• Catholic Legal Assistance Ministry's Immigration Law Project

2024

• Beth & Darin Boggs
• Gabe Gore
• Lynne M. Jackson
• Veterans Community Project

2023

None - Event date was moved to 2024.

2022

• Edward Jones — Courageous Conversations Program
• Left Bank Books Foundation — Literacy & Justice Project
• Greg Linhares, Clerk of Court, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
• Dana McWay, Clerk of Court, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
• Zoe Lyle Linza, Retired BAMSL Executive Director

2021

• Cheryl Campbell
• Alex Garza, M.D.
• Founding members of Motion for Kids
• St. Joseph Housing Initative

2019

• Kathryn Banks, Washington University School of Law, Children's Rights Clinic
• Opal Jones, DOORWAYS
• Tony Messenger, St. Louis Post Dispatch
• Jim Moran, St. Louis University Public Safety Director
• Otis Williams, St. Louis Development Corporation

 

2018

• John Ammann, Saint Louis University School of Law
• John Hessel, Lewis Rice LLC
• Issac Bruce Foundation
• Hon. Stephen Limbaugh Sr., Armstrong Teasdale
• Katie Meyer, Washington University School of Law
• Chris Nagus, KMOV Channel 4

2017

• Paula Finlay, AT&T
• Marc Goldstein, Stinson Leonard Street
• Sue Greenberg, Volunteers Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts
• Marie Kenyon, Archdiocese of St. Louis
• Prof. Kimberly Norwood, Washington University

2016

• Hannah Sullivan, Catholic Charities
• Ted Gianaris, Simmons Hanly Conroy
• Emerson
• St. Louis Internship Program

 

 

2015

• Dr. Patricia Wolff
• William Ray Price Jr.
• Criminal Justice Ministry
• Brendan Roediger
• Sgt. John Wall
• Debbie Weaver
• Molly Higgins

 

2014

• Erwin O. Switzer
• Lt. Shawn Dace
• Sen. Jamilah Nasheed
• Rep. Michael Colona
• Maurice B. Graham
• Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

 

 

2013

• Sheila Burton
• Hon. Michael D. Burton
• Patricia "Patti" Hageman
• Paul Brown
• Capt. Daniel Howard
• Sylvester Brown, Jr.
• Art Holliday

2012

• ArchCity Defenders: Thomas Harvey, John McAnnar and Michael-John Voss
• Todd Epsten (Deceased)
• Frank Finnegan
• Frankie Muse Freeman
• Eric Greitens
• Judicial Learning Center
• BJC HealthCare

 

 

2011

• Christina Lewis Abate
• Brian J. Cooke
• Antonio D. French
• Martin L. Mathews
• James E. McDaniel
• Mardi Montello (Deceased)
• Amy Lorenz-Moser, Armstrong Teasdale
• Kevin Demoff, St. Louis Rams Executive Vice President of Football Operations and COO

 

 

2010

• Dr. Donald M. Suggs
• Police Athletic League, Lt. Col. Gregory Hawkins (Retired)
• Eddie Roth
• Northwest Academy of Law, Valerie Carter Thomas, Principal
• Mary Detach Leonard
• Kids Voting Missouri, Sandra I. Diamond, Director
• The Honorable Andrew Jackson Higgins (Deceased) 
• The Honorable Jimmie Edwards 

 

 

2009

• John R. Barsanti, Jr. (Deceased)
• Dan Buck
• Ruth Ezell
• Ryan Hummert (Deceased)
• John G. Simon
• Hon. Francis G. Slay
• Charles A. Weiss
• Ronda F. Williams
• Samuel Sung H. You