LOUISVILLE, Ky. 鈥揚ulitzer Prize-winning journalist Eugene Robinson will receive the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law鈥檚 2014 Brandeis Medal on April 9. The prize is the school鈥檚 highest honor and goes to advocates for social justice.
鈥淭his award recognizes those who are champions for fundamental human rights and social justice,鈥 said law dean Susan Duncan. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why Eugene is so perfect for this award. Through his life鈥檚 work he has been an influential voice calling for equality, freedom and human compassion.鈥
Robinson is an author, columnist, political commentator and a former assistant managing editor of The Washington Post. His most recent book, 鈥淒isintegration: The Splintering of Black America,鈥 was published in 2010. He received a 2009 Pulitzer Prize in commentary for his columns on the 2008 presidential campaign.
The 6 p.m. event at The Brown Hotel, 335 W. Broadway, will take a unique approach, said Laura Rothstein, a law professor and co-chair of the Brandeis Award Committee.
鈥淪ince Eugene writes about many issues, we didn鈥檛 want to limit him to one topic. So he will have on-stage discussion with fellow journalist and UofL alumnus Bob Edwards in a format that is similar to the Kentucky Author Forum,鈥 said Rothstein.
Topics expected to be covered include Edward Snowden and government transparency, 鈥渟tand-your-ground鈥 laws, racial disparity in crime sentencing, affirmative action and voting rights.