Local Award Winners

Each year, the ACLU of Nebraska names honorees, celebrating changemakers and hard-earned progress in our state. If you would like to submit a nomination for an award, you may do so by emailing comm@aclunebraska.org or calling 402.476.8091.

Roger Baldwin Civil Libertarian of the Year Award

This award is given annually to an individual or entity that has helped the ACLU of Nebraska advance civil liberties.

  • 2025 RISE and Voices for Children in Nebraska
  • 2024 Abbi Swatsworth and the OutNebraska team
  • 2023 I Be Black Girl, UNL Muslim Law Students' Association, Nebraska Indian Education Association
  • 2022 I Be Black Girl, Nebraska Abortion Resources, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska & Women's Fund of Omaha
  • 2021 Jason Witmer
  • 2020 Black and Pink and I Be Black Girl
  • 2019 Unity in Action
  • 2018 Urban League of Nebraska Young Professionals
  • 2017 Joel Busch & Todd Vesely, Janet & Lisa Blakey, Greg & Stillman Stewart - Gay & Lesbian Foster Care Clients
  • 2016 Senator Heath Mello & Senator Tanya Cook
  • 2015 Nebraska Freedom to Marry Plaintiffs
  • 2014 Dennis Keefe
  • 2013 DREAMers Students
  • 2012 Domina Law Group & Jeanne Kuhr
  • 2011 One Fremont One Future
  • 2010 Dr. LeRoy Carhart
  • 2009 Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest
  • 2008 Bassel El-Kasaby
  • 2007 Angels Theatre Company and Judith Hard
  • 2006 Senator DiAnna Schimek
  • 2005 Nan Graf
  • 2004 Five couples from the 416 lawsuit: Gary Lopez & Jim Kieffer, Barbara DiBernard & Judy Gibson, Dave Gilsdorf & Robb Crouch, Margaux Towne-Colley & Donna Colley, Maria Perez & Nancy Brink
  • 2003 Jeremy Patrick
  • 1997 Cantor Michael Weisser
  • 1996 Jay and GayLynn Brummett
  • 1995 Joel Gajardo
  • 1994 Nebraskans Against the Death Penalty
  • 1993 Mary Clarkson
  • 1991 Sen. Jessie Rasmussen
  • 1988 Arlie Katzman
  • 1987 Michael Sinn and Pam Pearn
  • 1986 Bob Broom
  • 1985 Tom Lansworth
  • 1984 Alan Peterson
  • 1983 Herb Friedman
  • 1982 Robert Spire

Defender of the Bill of Rights Award

This award is given annually to an individual or organization who has worked independently of the ACLU of Nebraska to advance civil liberties.

  • 2025 Kearney Action Network and Kearney Indivisible
  • 2024 Malcolm X Memorial Foundation
  • 2023 Gladys Godinez
  • 2022 Senators Megan Hunt, Matt Hansen, Carol Blood, Wendy DeBoer, Adam Morfeld, Tony Vargas, Jen Day, Eliot Bostar, Machaela Cavanaugh, John Cavanaugh, Patty Pansing Brooks, Terrell McKinney, Anna Wishart, John McCollister, Lynne Walz
  • 2021 Sen. Terrell McKinney
  • 2020 11 state senators who issued a call for a special session on racial justice
  • 2019 Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks
  • 2018 Rainbow Rowell
  • 2017 Sen. Tony Vargas
  • 2016 Omaha Chamber of Commerce & Lincoln Chamber of Commerce
  • 2105 Nebraska Legislature Judiciary Committee
  • 2014 Paul Olson
  • 2013 Fair Housing Center of Nebraska & Iowa
  • 2012 Sergio Sosa & the Heartland Workers Center
  • 2011 Dr. Leola Bullock (posthumanously)
  • 2010 Nebraska Criminal Defense Attorneys Association
  • 2009 Nelson Potter
  • 2008 Omahans for Justice Alliance
  • 2006 Bob Wolfson
  • 2005 Lela Shanks
  • 2004 Ben Gray
  • 2003 Jim Kubik
  • 2002 Philip Schoo, Marilyn Moore, and the 2001 Lincoln School Board
  • 1998 Mel Krutz
  • 1996 Sen. Ernie Chambers
  • 1995 Dr. G. William Orr
  • 1994 Lincoln and Omaha Lawyers Panels
  • 1993 Verda Bialac, Beryl Davey, and W. Dale Clark Library 1992-93 Board of Trustees
  • 1991 Otey death penalty team (Victor Covalt, Shawn Renner, James Mowbray, Dorothy Walker, Vincent Powers, Larry Meyers, Timothy Ford, and Lancaster Public Defenders Office)
  • 1990 Law-related Education Committee of the Nebraska State Bar Association (accepted by Tom Keefe)
  • 1989 Frances Mendenhall
  • 1989 Bob Kerrey
  • 1988 James McShane
  • 1987 Philip Schoo and the Lincoln Board of Education
  • 1986 Jean Walsh
  • 1986 Paul Fell
  • 1986 Randal Brown
  • 1985 Sen. Ernie Chambers
  • 1983 Lois Klingsporn
  • 1982 Robert Schrepf
  • 1982 Sun Newspapers
  • 1982 Ernie Chambers

Robert M. Spire Founders Service Award

This award is given to someone who has consistently worked with the ACLU of Nebraska for a lengthy period of time to advance civil liberties.

  • 2025 A’Jamal-Rashad Byndon
  • 2024 Fran Kaye
  • 2023 Jareldine Mays
  • 2022 Yolanda Chavez Nuncio
  • 2021 Marj Plumb and Jean and John* Krejci (*posthumously)
  • 2020 Sen. Ernie Chambers
  • 2019 Beatty Brasch
  • 2018 Rich Juro
  • 2017 Herb Friedman
  • 2016 Carol Gendler
  • 2015 Richard Holland
  • 2013 Cynthia Tiedeman
  • 2012 Professor G. Michael Fenner
  • 2011 A. Dwayne Ball
  • 2010 Leslie J. Seymore
  • 2009 Christy Abraham
  • 2008 Jim Bender
  • 2007 Charles Stephen
  • 2006 Susan Koenig
  • 2005 Robert Bartle
  • 2004 Robert Broom
  • 2003 Eileen Durgin-Clinchard
  • 2002 David Moshman
  • 1997 Mary Ann Lamanna
  • 1995 Marsha Fangmeyer
  • 1993 Alan Peterson
  • 1991 Pat Healey
  • 1990 Sam Walker
  • 1989 John Taylor
  • 1988 Lou Crompton
  • 1987 Ken Dudek
  • 1985 Denise Frost
  • 1984 Ed and Ann Murphy