Hon. Edwin Meese III Award
The Hon. Edwin Meese III Award is bestowed to an individual who has upheld the rule of law in the face of adverse political challenges. The Ed Meese Award is presented at the National Policy Conference each spring in Washington, DC.
Republican Lawyer of the Year Award
Each year, the RNLA bestows the Republican Lawyer of the Year Award on a lawyer for his or her outstanding professional accomplishments and years of dedicated service to the Republican Party and its ideals.
Betty Murphy Award
The Betty Murphy Award this award is given each year to an unsung hero, member, trailblazer, with entrepreneurial spirit, a community service leader, an organization builder who inspires others' efforts.
RNLA Robert J. Horn Chairman's Award
The Robert J. Horn Chairman’s Award is an award presented to individuals for nationally distinguished service to the citizens of the United States of America for protecting the honesty and accuracy of elections. It is presented in honor of the Founding Chairman, who succeeded in significantly advancing the integrity of elections throughout his professional lifetime by founding and promoting the Republican National Lawyers Association.
Past award winners of the Hon. Edwin Meese III Award include:
2022: Senator Tom Cotton
2021: Senator Mitch McConnell
2019: Senator Lindsey Graham
Manny Iglesias (RNLA Chair) and Senator Lindsey Graham, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee
2018: Scott Pruitt
Manny Iglesias (RNLA First Vice President) with EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt
2017: Donald F. McGahn III
David Bowsher (RNLA VP for Programming & 2017 NPC Master of Ceremonies), White House Counsel Don McGahn (2017 Ed Meese Award Recipient), Former Attorney General Ed Meese, and Manuel Iglesias (RNLA First Vice President)
2016: Chuck Cooper
Pictured left to right: Chuck Cooper and Dick Wiley (2015 Ed Meese Award recipient)
2015: Dick Wiley
Pictured left to right: Dick Wiley and Former Attorney General John Ashcroft
2014: Michael Mukasey
2013: Fred Fielding
2012: Michael Chertoff
2011: Mayor Rudy Giuliani
2010: Senator Jeff Sessions
2009: Hans Von Spakovsky
2008: C. Boyden Gray
2007: Ambassador John Bolton
2006: Ted Olson
2005: Attorney General John Ashcroft
2004: Judge Ken Starr
2003: Attorney General Ed Meese
Past award winners of the RNLA Republican Lawyer of the Year Award include:
2021: Elliot Berke
Pictured left to right: Rep. Devin Nunes, Elliot Berke, and Leader Kevin McCarthy
2020: Joanne Young
Pictured left to right: RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel and Joanne Young
2019: Lee Goodman
2018: Harmeet Kaur Dhillon
Pictured left to right: Joanne Young, Harmeet Kaur Dhillon, and Laura Ingraham
2017: Larry Levy
Pictured left to right: Larry Levy and 2016 Lawyer of the Year Award Recipient John Ryder
2016: John L. Ryder
Pictured left to right: Mark Braden, Randy Evans, John Ryder, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, George Terwilliger, and JC Boggs
2015: Bobby Burchfield
Pictured left to right: Elliot Berke and Bobby Burchfield
2014: E. Mark Braden
2013: George J. Terwilliger III
2012: J. Caleb Boggs III
2011: J. Randolph Evans
2010: Charles J. Cooper
2009: James Bopp, Jr.
2008: Theodore B. Olson
2007: Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.
2006: Harvey M. Tettlebaum
2005: Bob Horn & Betty Southard Murphy
2004: Dick Wiley
Past award winners of the Betty Murphy Award include:
2021: Chuck Bell
2020: Brenda Hankins
2019: Mike Davis
2018: Ashley Carter MacLeay
2017: Linda A. Kerns
2016: Kathryn Ciano
2015: Heather Heidelbaugh
2014: Tom Spencer
2013: Brigida Benitez
2012: Nancy Nord
Past award winners of the RNLA Robert J. Horn Chairman's Award include:
2021: Justin Riemer
2020: Harvey M. Tettlebaum
2019: Anne Lewis
2018: Ron Hicks
2017: Manuel Iglesias