2024 Fall Gala

This year we honor the accomplishments of those advancing criminal legal reform:

Russell Stetler, Stuart Schuman Award for Indigent Defense

For more than forty years, Russ has worked in indigent capital defense and as a pioneer in the field of mitigation, serving as the first ever National Mitigation Coordinator for the federal death penalty projects. He helped to establish mitigation as a core capital defense obligation as now recognized in the ABA Guidelines. He is also a founding Board member at the Atlantic Center, and tenured faulty at the annual ACCR/PDAP Bring Your Own Case Trainings.

CJ Rice & Theodore Tapper, Community Engagement Awards

Decades ago, Theodore Tapper was CJ Rice’s pediatric physician. After CJ was wrongfully convicted for crimes that Mr. Tapper knew he could not have physically committed, they forged a bond that became a lifeline. CJ’s ability to endure, coupled with Ted’s persistence to seek justice, advocacy on CJ’s behalf, and outreach to organizations like ACCR led to CJ’s exoneration and freedom.

Kempis "Ghani" Songster, Returning Champion of Justice Award

Ghani was sentenced to life in prison as a child of fifteen. While incarcerated he became an advocate, mentor, and thought leader who founded the Right to Redemption and the Coalition to Abolish Death By Incarceration. Since his release, he has worked as a Healing Justice Organizer with Amistad Law Project, Intergenerational Healing Facilitator at Youth Sentencing & Reentry Project, Pogram Manager of Healing Futures with Youth Art & Self-Empowerment, and currently serves as Transformative Healing & Restorative Justice Manager at the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth. He also serves on the Board of Common Justice.

Truly special thanks to Celeste Trusty for taking the mic as our Guest MC for the evening - because of Celeste, attendees will be able to enjoy the presentations & be spared from our dear Bookman screaming into the microphone for too long.