Washington, DC (July 29, 2024)– The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) presented its Champion of Justice Legal Award to noted Pennsylvania attorney Lisa A. Mathewson at its Albert J. Krieger Annual Meeting in Seattle on July 27.
Michael P. Heiskell, NACDL Immediate Past President, stated:
"Renowned Pennsylvania attorney Lisa A. Mathewson has been awarded the NACDL Champion of Justice Legal Award. Mathewson is being honored for her exceptional career of nearly 30 years dedicated to defending clients in complex criminal cases. Her unwavering commitment to the criminal defense bar and her outstanding contributions to NACDL make her a most deserving recipient.
"Mathewson is highly regarded by her peers for her legal acumen, and for her skill as a communicator both in and out of the courtroom. Her extensive appellate experience, including work before multiple circuits and the U.S. Supreme Court, is invaluable to NACDL. As a Vice Chair of our Amicus Committee, she helps to ensure that our much-lauded amicus program remains a vehicle for advancing the cause of criminal justice and NACDL’s mission. Mathewson’s current and former leadership roles include co-chairing NACDL’s White-Collar Committee, as well as serving on the Bylaws Committee, Audit Committee, and Nominating Committee, and on our Board of Directors. Beyond her work with NACDL, Mathewson served for many years on the Selection Committee of the Criminal Justice Act Panel for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, eventually receiving an award from the Board of Judges for the committee’s work in helping the court to craft a well-qualified and diverse Panel. She is a co-chair of the Thought Leadership Committee for the Women’s White Collar Defense Association, a member of the Rules Committee of the Third Circuit Bar Association, and active with the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers."
"Every time a criminal defense lawyer stands up in court, or counsels a client, or writes a letter or brief, they are putting the ideas at the center of our democracy to work to protect individual liberty," said Lisa A. Mathewson. "I couldn’t be more touched to receive this recognition for the role appellate work plays in the day-to-day fight."
Lisa Mathewson received her B.A. in Philosophy and Spanish from Colgate University and her J.D. from the University of Connecticut, with highest honors. After graduation, Mathewson clerked on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, then joined a large international firm in Philadelphia. She later became a partner in a boutique white-collar defense firm, where she practiced for 10 years before forming Mathewson Law in 2009.
Jessie Diamond, Deputy Director, Public Affairs and Communications, (202) 465-7647 or jdiamond@nacdl.org
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is the preeminent organization advancing the mission of the criminal defense bar to ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crime or wrongdoing. A professional bar association founded in 1958, NACDL's many thousands of direct members in 28 countries – and 90 state, provincial and local affiliate organizations totaling up to 40,000 attorneys – include private criminal defense lawyers, public defenders, military defense counsel, law professors and judges committed to preserving fairness and promoting a rational and humane criminal legal system.
