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We are incredibly pleased to announce that Malcolm C. Rich, our executive director here at Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice, was honored as one of the American Constitution Society’s Legal Legends on July 18 at the ACS Chicago Lawyer’s Chapter 2013 Legal Legend’s Luncheon. Past honorees have included the honorable George N. Leighton (ret.), Toni R. Preckwinkle, and Geoffrey R. Stone, among others.

Malcolm C. Rich is also the executive director of the Chicago Council of Lawyers, Chicago’s public interest bar association. He is Of Counsel to the law firm of Whitted, Cleary + Takiff, LLC, as well as a member of the Advisory Board of the John Howard Association of Illinois. Other honorees at this year’s luncheon were Douglass Cassel, Professor of Law and Notre Dame Presidential Fellow at Notre Dame Law School, specializing in international human rights, international criminal, and international humanitarian law; Robert A. Helman, a partner in the Chicago office of Mayer Brown LLP, focusing on corporate governance; and Maria Woltjen, who received the Ruth Goldman Award at this year’s luncheon, lecturer in law at the University of Chicago Law School and founder and director of the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights,

Mr. Rich’s remarks urged lawyers to do two types of pro bono work: individual representation and working toward systemic reform to make the justice system fairer for everyone. His remarks are being included in full here:

I want to thank the Chicago chapter of the American Constitution Society for this award.  I am honored and humbled to receive it.  It means much to me particularly in light of the incredible luminaries who have received this award not only today but in years past.

I lead two organizations which collaborate to seek systemic reform of our court systems.  Chicago Appleseed and the Chicago Council of Lawyers are sometimes successful; at other times we keep trying.  As the Executive Director of both groups, I have built a career around the idea that lawyers should do two types of pro bono work – individual representation and working to make the justice system fair and effective for all persons.

My future goal is to promote new generations of lawyers who want to work for bringing about a justice system that successfully keeps up with the changing environment – and always protects the most vulnerable persons in the process.  This means such things as establishing a more expansive system of treatment diversion for defendants in the criminal justice system,  a fair system for all those needing child support, a more effective and fair way of running our immigration courts, and working to bring about a highly qualified and diverse judiciary.  There are many more things to do, as well!

We must work together to bring about needed change. Lawyers have the ability and the obligation to be leaders in this effort.  The American Constitution Society is a representative of a new generation of lawyers, and so I am particularly pleased to be honored by ACS.   Thank you.

Congratulations to Malcolm C. Rich and all the other honorees!