Prof. JaneAnne Murray Honored with NACDL Champion of Justice Award

Professor JaneAnne Murray was awarded the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) Champion of Justice Legal Award on February 26 during the Association’s Midwinter Meeting in Austin, Texas.

Champion of Justice Awards are bestowed upon those individuals who—through legislative, journalistic, philanthropic, or humanitarian pursuits—have staunchly preserved or defended the constitutional rights of American citizens and have endeavored to ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crime.

"JaneAnne Murray has been a criminal defense lawyer for more than 25 years and for the past 10 years, in addition to her practice, has taught at the University of Minnesota Law School," said NACDL Secretary Andrew Birrell. "At the law school JaneAnne founded a clemency clinic which has so far secured the release of 32 incarcerated people and introduced literally dozens of law students to the horrors of mass incarceration. As an NACDL Board member and chair or member of various NACDL committees, including co-chair of the Sentencing Committee, JaneAnne has worked tirelessly for the cause of justice on both an operational and a leadership level. JaneAnne is also a Board member of the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.