Each year, the Pennsylvania Innocence Project presents its Hero of Justice Award to an individual who has shown sustained commitment to achieving criminal justice for all. Because the work we do involves instances where the criminal justice system has catastrophically failed, we recognize those who strive to improve the system to meet our ultimate goal: that no innocent person be arrested or convicted of a crime they did not commit.
2022
Thomas B. Schmidt III
Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP
2021
Howard Scher
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
2019
In 2019, all of our clients who had been exonerated by the time of the ceremony received the Hero of Justice award.
2018
Stewart Greenleaf
Pennsylvania State Senator
2017
Cozen O’Connor, P.C.
2016
Kenneth Thompson
District Attorney of Brooklyn, NY
2015
Barbara Haldeman and Charles Haldeman
2014
Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey
Philadelphia Police Department
2013
Denise Foderaro
The Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice at the University of Pennsylvania Law School
2012
John Thompson
Pepper & Hamilton LLP
2011
Ellen McBennet
Defender Association of Philadelphia
Karl Schwartz
Defender Association of Philadelphia
Gordon Cooney
Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
Michael Banks
Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP