Vice President Kamala D. Harris
William O. Douglas Award
Kamala D. Harris served as the 49th Vice President of the United States from 2021 to 2025—the first woman in American history to hold the office. She began her career in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office before being elected District Attorney of San Francisco, where her Back on Track program became a national model for reducing recidivism.
As California’s Attorney General, Harris prosecuted transnational gangs, big banks that defrauded homeowners, and for-profit colleges that targeted students and veterans. She defended the Affordable Care Act, fought for marriage equality, and pioneered the nation’s first open-data initiative in the criminal justice system. In the United States Senate, Harris fought for civil, immigrant, and voting rights, and gained national recognition for her incisive questioning in committee hearings.
As Vice President, she led efforts to strengthen global alliances and address child poverty, gun violence, student debt, maternal health, economic opportunity, and reproductive rights—casting more tie-breaking votes than any Vice President in history, including for pandemic relief and the largest climate investment ever.
Throughout her career, she has always fought for the only client she has ever had: the people.
(Photo Credit: Mark Hill)
Rita Moreno
Trailblazer in the Arts Award
Rita Moreno is a true Hollywood and Broadway legend having been honored and recognized for her critically acclaimed performances during her more than 80 year career. She has won all four of the most prestigious awards in show business: an Oscar, a Tony, two Emmys, and a Grammy. Her countless credits span more than eight decades, beginning with her Broadway debut at age 13. In addition, Moreno has starred on London’s West End, appeared in more than 70 feature films, countless television shows, and has performed in numerous regional theaters including her one woman show, Life Without Makeup at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. She continues to tour the country appearing at speaking engagements and lectures.
Moreno recently appeared in the comedy-horror movie, “The Prank” and the Netflix film “Family Switch”. She also starred in several blockbuster films “Fast X” and “80 for Brady”; a holiday flick for Lifetime-TV, “Santa’s Bootcamp”; and hosted the 30th Anniversary Special, “Beauty and The Beast” on ABC-TV.
Moreno also co-starred and served as an Executive Producer in Steven Spielberg’s remake of “West Side Story”. Her documentary, “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It”, had its world debut at Sundance Film Festival and then released in theaters nationwide. The film also debuted on TV as part of PBS’ American Masters series and is now streaming on Netflix. Moreno also appeared in the widely popular Latinx reimagining of Norman Lear’s classic TV sitcom, One Day At A Time which aired for 4 seasons. In 2015 Moreno released her first ever all-Spanish language album, Una Vez Más, produced by good friend, Emilio Estefan. She is also a New York Times bestselling author with her first book, Rita Moreno: A Memoir published by Celebra Books. Recipient of the Peabody Career Achievement Award and the Kennedy Center Honor for her lifetime contributions to American culture, she was also honored by her peers as the 50th recipient of the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award. She has also served as Grand Marshall for both the Rose Parade and National Puerto Rican Day Parade.
Moreno is the recipient Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush, the highest civilian award of the United States, and the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama, the highest award given to artists and arts patrons.
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Law Firm Pro Bono Award
When Davis Wright Tremaine’s founding partner, John Davis, asked, “…unless we are serving humankind to the top extent of our ability and putting our best talent into that service, what good is life?” he was defining a principle that continues to guide the firm’s pro bono practice more than eight decades later.
That commitment is not only aspirational. It is reflected in a measurable, sustained, and intentional devotion to giving back. In 2025, DWT contributed over 31,275 hours of pro bono service, valued at $25.6 million. That impact-driven work included a class action lawsuit filed in partnership with Public Counsel, the National Immigration Project, Kids in Need of Defense, and Lowenstein Sandler, challenging the abrupt termination of a federal program that allowed abused, neglected, or abandoned immigrant children to remain in the U.S. while awaiting visas.
In addition to direct advocacy, DWT fosters unique client-law firm collaborations that reflect a modern approach to pro bono practice at the intersection of technology, AI, and social impact. These efforts are reflected in the firm’s proprietary In-House Gateway to Good platform and its signature flagship initiatives, including the Protecting Journalists Pro Bono Program, Haven AI, and the Scam Justice Legal Clinic.
For DWT, pro bono is not simply an ethical obligation. It is a core expression of the firm’s purpose. Across decades, practice areas, and evolving forms of advocacy, DWT will continue to answer our founding partner’s question in the only way that matters – through action that meaningfully advances access to justice.
