ACLU leader and social justice advocate Anthony D. Romero to receive ABA Thurgood Marshall Award

June 25, 2026

ACLU leader and social justice advocate Anthony D. Romero to receive ABA Thurgood Marshall Award

WASHINGTON, June 25, 2026 - The American Bar Association Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice will honor civil rights and social justice trailblazer Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), on Aug. 1 during the ABA Annual Conference in Chicago. He is the first Hispanic recipient of the Thurgood Marshall Award.

The award will be presented at a dinner program and award presentation honoring Romero's longtime commitment to advancing civil rights and celebrating the section's 60 years of advancing civil rights at 7 p.m. CDT at the Swissotel Chicago, Zurich Ballroom ABCD.

"Under Anthony's leadership, ACLU has navigated some of the most pivotal moments in modern history. His dedication and resilience have expanded opportunity, protected fundamental civil and human rights, and amplified the voices of those too often left unheard, values that lie at the very heart and mission of our section," said chair Mario Sullivan. "At a time when the rule of law and our Nation's founding principles are being tested, Anthony's steadfast dedication to fairness, inclusion and the rule of law serves as an example for all of us. I can think of no one more deserving of the 2026 Thurgood Marshall Award."

The award honors U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, who epitomized individual commitment, in word and action, to the cause of civil rights in this country. The award recognizes similar long-term contributions by other members of the legal profession to the advancement of civil rights, social justice and human rights in the United States. Marshall was the first recipient of the award.

"Justice Thurgood Marshall taught us that the law can be a powerful instrument for change when guided by courage, conviction and an unwavering belief in equal justice. Anthony embodies that same spirit," Sullivan said.

Over the last 25 years, under Romero's leadership, the ACLU has become the foremost legal and advocacy organization defending freedom, equality and justice for all. He is the longest-serving head of the 105-year-old organization since its founder, Roger Baldwin, stepped down in 1950. The organization has seen tremendous growth under his leadership, which has propelled it to one of the largest and most impactful legal and advocacy organizations in the United States.

Under his guidance, the ACLU has pursued aggressive litigation and advocacy for injustices that include: challenges to the war on terror and fighting to close Guantánamo; protecting the right to free speech - regardless of ideology - across the internet and social media platforms, in classrooms and on campuses and in the public square; combating racial disparities within the criminal justice system, reducing mass incarceration and advocating for the commutation of federal death sentences; winning the freedom to marry for same-sex couples and ensuring federal civil rights protections for LGBTQ workers; and fighting assaults on transgender rights and dignity.

The ACLU brought 434 legal actions during the first Trump Administration and has already brought hundreds more during President Trump's second term.

Romero is credited for the organization's revamped political program, which resulted in a winning ballot referendum to protect abortion rights for millions across the nation, and the launch of its first political action committee - the ACLU Voter Education Fund - in 2024. He also launched a nationwide Systemic Equality campaign for racial justice.

The ACLU has a presence in every state. A nonpartisan organization, it advances civil liberties and civil rights without respect to political affiliation and holds Democratic and Republican leaders alike accountable to the Constitution.

Romero is the ACLU's sixth executive director and the first Latino and openly gay man to serve in that capacity.

Romero's parents are from Puerto Rico. He was the first in his family to graduate from high school. A graduate of Stanford University Law School and the Princeton University School of Public Policy and International Affairs, Romero has served on numerous nonprofit boards and is currently a trustee of Princeton University.

"As we honor Anthony, we also celebrate 60 years of our section's commitment to advancing civil rights and human rights, fostering a more just and inclusive nation. We stand on the shoulders of, and pay tribute to, the countless lawyers, advocates, judges and changemakers who have carried forward the mission of our section across generations," Sullivan added.

The ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice provides leadership within the legal profession in protecting and advancing human rights, civil liberties and social justice. Representing nearly 10,000 members with a wide range of professional interests and expertise, the section keeps its members abreast of complex civil rights and social justice issues and ensures that they remain a focus of law and policy.

For more information about the event or for media registration, contact Betsy Adeboyejo at [email protected].