Named in honor of esteemed Catholic constitutional professor, William Bentley Ball, the Defender of Religious Liberty Award is bestowed in recognition of brave action to champion the cause of religious liberty.
In 2014, the Society presented this award to the Han Family and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corporation for their defense of religious exercise in what is now called the Hobby Lobby cases. For a compelling review of the liberties at stake in the cases, read the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ amicus curiae brief in support of Hobby Lobby.