Human Rights Hero, Llew Pritchard, Awarded the 2011 Judge Learned Hand Award


“The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right…” quoted Llewelyn (Llew) G. Pritchard when accepting the Judge Learned Hand Award from the American Jewish Committee.

The award luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle was co-chaired by Bill Gates, Sr. and Bill Neukom. Other luminaries at the event included Michael Posner as the Keynote Speaker andThomas Ehrlich, an academic leader who was a law clerk to Judge Learned Hand, with Special Remarks.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) established the award in 1964. Named in honor of Judge Learned Hand, Senior Judge of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 1924 to 1951, the award commemorates Judge Hand’s work as one of America’s greatest jurists and humanitarians. Llew Pritchard, a senior partner at Helsell Fetterman, is the first to receive the coveted award from AJC Seattle.

Throughout his career, Llew has provided legal services to disadvantaged peoples; refugees; immigrants; and transgender, gay, bi-sexual and lesbian individuals. In 2010 Llew received the Robert F. Drinan Award for his work on behalf of civil rights, individual rights and access to justice. He also received the 2010 Allied For Justice Award, presented by the National LGBT Bar Association.

Currently Llew serves as a member of the Board of The American Bar Association’s Rule of Law Initiative and as Chair of the Special Counselors of the Center for Human Rights. He is a former member of the ABA’s Board of Governors and served as a member of the Association’s Executive Committee. Llew has chaired the ABA’s Committee on Immigration Law, the section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities, and the Standing Committee on Legal Aid. He has also been a member of the ABA House of Delegates for almost 30 years.

Llew serves on the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest. He is a trustee of the Fifth Avenue Theatre and former president of Allied Arts of Seattle, the Allied Arts Foundation, the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, PONCHO and the Duke Alumni Association of Puget Sound. Llew is a founding member of the Puget Sound Chapter of the American Constitution Society. He serves on the ACS Judicial Nominations Task Force and has been a member of the Seattle Foundation since 1964.

Llew received his A.B., with honors, from Drew University in 1958. He went on to law school at Duke University and graduated with his LL.B. in 1961.

With a lifetime of upholding the rights of the individual and the importance of democratic values in an orderly society, Llew Pritchard is a true legal leader in America today.


Contact Llew at lpritchard@helsell.com or (206) 689-2180.