Awarded by Unanimous Resolution of the Board of Directors of the California Public Defenders Association

Honoring Champions of Indigent Defense

The California Public Defenders Association is honored to recognize the 2026 awardees, whose courage, leadership, and dedication uphold the constitutional promise of equal justice for all.

Champion of Justice

Honors an individual whose work has had a statewide impact on the lives of our clients.

Defender of the Year

Recognizes a defender who, in the opinion of other defenders, deserves special recognition for their work in criminal defense practice — sometimes for a particular case, sometimes for an entire body of work.

Defender Program of the Year

Recognizes defender offices that have developed special programs serving as examples of important services for clients and staff.

Gideon Award

Recognizes members of the press, electronic media, and entertainment industry whose work has made the criminal legal system more understandable and helped educate the public on the rights of the accused.

Rose Elizabeth Bird Award

Honors a member of the judiciary who has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the rights of the accused and to the principle that equal justice must be guaranteed to all.

Special Recognition

Honors members of the association and defender community in categories that may not occur annually — including lifetime achievement, leadership in particular fields, and extraordinary contributions to the defense community.