David Boies and Ted Olson, lead attorneys in the federal case challenging California's Proposition 8, have been awarded the American Bar Association's highest honor, the ABA Medal:

The ABA Medal recognizes exceptionally distinguished service by a lawyer or lawyers to the cause of American jurisprudence. The medal’s recipient is chosen by the ABA’s Board of Governors.

“It’s an honor to present the ABA Medal to David and Ted,” said ABA President Stephen N. Zack. “Our courts are being starved for lack of funding. Through their leadership on the Task Force on Preservation of the Justice System, David and Ted have effectively worked to protect the third co-equal branch of government and our constitutional democracy.”

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The ABA Medal is given only in years when the ABA Board of Governors determines a nominee has provided exceptional and distinguished service to the law and the legal profession. Among previous recipients are legendary justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, including Oliver Wendell Holmes, Felix Frankfurter, Thurgood Marshall, William J. Brennan Jr., Sandra Day O’Connor and Anthony Kennedy. Other recipients include Watergate Special Prosecutor Leon Jaworski; human rights activist Father Robert Drinan; co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, William H. Gates Sr.; and Judge Patricia Wald, member of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.

Boies and Olson will receive the award on August 8 at the ABA's annual meeting.