Bryan Stevenson
Born 1959 · Age 66
American lawyer, social justice activist, NYU law professor, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI); noted for death-penalty and juvenile sentencing reform, creation of the Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and author of Just Mercy.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Milton, Delaware
Bryan Allen Stevenson was born in Milton, a small town in southern Delaware.
Raised in Prospect AME church; early musical involvement
Family attended the Prospect African Methodist Episcopal Church; as a child Stevenson played piano and sang in the choir, formative for his faith and views on redemption.
Maternal grandfather murdered
When Stevenson was 16 his maternal grandfather, Clarence L. Golden, was stabbed to death; the killers received life sentences — an experience that shaped Stevenson's belief in redemption.
Won high-school public speaking contests
Won American Legion public speaking contests during high school, an early refinement of rhetorical skills.
Graduated Cape Henlopen High School
Graduated from Cape Henlopen High School; played soccer and baseball, served as student-body president and won American Legion public speaking contests.
Graduated Eastern University (B.A. in Philosophy)
Earned a B.A. in philosophy from Eastern University (St. Davids, Pennsylvania); directed the campus gospel choir and won a scholarship to attend.
Law-school clinical work with Southern Center for Human Rights
While at Harvard Law, in a race and poverty litigation class with Elizabeth Bartholet, Stevenson worked for the Southern Center for Human Rights representing death-row inmates — the start of his career focus.
Moved to Montgomery, Alabama (residence & base of operations)
Relocated to Montgomery in 1985 and has resided there since, establishing EJI's base and engaging locally in civil-rights and memorial work.
Earned JD and MPP from Harvard University
Received both a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from Harvard Kennedy School.
Joined Southern Center for Human Rights (full-time)
Moved to Atlanta after Harvard and joined the Southern Center for Human Rights as a staff attorney, assigned to cover the Deep South (Alabama region).
Received Reebok Human Rights Award
Recipient of the Reebok Human Rights Award (listed among his early recognitions for public-interest legal work).
Appointed to run Alabama operation, Southern Center for Human Rights
The Southern Center appointed Stevenson to run its Alabama operation — a resource center and death-penalty defense organization with an office in Montgomery.
ACLU National Medal of Liberty
Awarded the National Medal of Liberty by the American Civil Liberties Union (nomination noted from Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens).
Walter McMillian exonerated and released (EJI case)
One of EJI's (and Stevenson's) first major case victories: Walter McMillian, wrongly convicted and on death row, was exonerated and released following Stevenson's challenge to the prosecution's case.
Founded Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) in Montgomery (approx.)
When federal funding for death-penalty defense was reduced, Stevenson converted the Alabama operation into the Equal Justice Initiative, a private nonprofit in Montgomery (date reported as mid-1990s).
Awarded MacArthur Fellowship
Received the prestigious MacArthur 'Genius' Fellowship and used the funds to support EJI's work.
Named Public Interest Lawyer of the Year (NAPIL)
Named Public Interest Lawyer of the Year by the National Association of Public Interest Lawyers (recognition for public-interest legal work).
Joined NYU School of Law clinical faculty
Began as clinical faculty at New York University School of Law, bringing EJI work into the law-school clinical training environment.
Olof Palme Prize
Received the Olof Palme Prize for international human rights work (Stockholm).
Published law review article in NYU Law Review
Published 'The Politics of Fear and Death: Successive Problems in Capital Federal Habeas Corpus Cases' in the NYU Law Review (vol. 77).
Published Alabama Law Review article
Published 'The Ultimate Authority on the Ultimate Punishment: The Requisite Role of the Jury in Capital Sentencing' in Alabama Law Review.
Award for Courageous Advocacy and Lawyer for the People Award
Received the Award for Courageous Advocacy from the American College of Trial Lawyers and Lawyer for the People Award from the National Lawyers Guild.
Roper v. Simmons juvenile death-penalty decision (impact)
U.S. Supreme Court ruled the death penalty unconstitutional for crimes committed under 18 (Roper v. Simmons); Stevenson had been instrumental in the movement and litigation strategy against juvenile death sentences.
NYU Distinguished Teaching Award
New York University presented Stevenson with its Distinguished Teaching Award for his work with clinical students.
Published Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review article
Published 'Confronting Mass Imprisonment and Restoring Fairness to Collateral Review of Criminal Cases' (HCR-CL Rev.).
Gruber Prize for Justice
Awarded the Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation's Justice Prize.
Four Freedoms Award (Freedom From Fear)
Received the Four Freedoms Award in the category Freedom From Fear.
Miller v. Alabama Supreme Court victory (juvenile LWOP)
U.S. Supreme Court held mandatory life-without-parole sentences for individuals 17 and younger unconstitutional — a landmark decision resulting from litigation campaigns including EJI's efforts.
TED Talk at TED2012 (Long Beach)
Delivered a widely viewed talk 'We need to talk about an injustice'; attendees contributed more than $1 million to fund his campaign to end placement of children in adult jails and prisons.
State accepts three slavery markers for Montgomery (installation)
Worked with local groups to get three historic markers acknowledging slave-trading sites in Montgomery approved and installed after initial state resistance.
Named in Time magazine's 10 Best Books of Nonfiction and NYT 100 Notable Books
Just Mercy was selected by Time as one of the '10 Best Books of Nonfiction' and was among The New York Times '100 Notable Books' for 2014.
Published memoir 'Just Mercy'
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption was published by Spiegel & Grau; recounts EJI cases including Walter McMillian and championed criminal-justice reform.
NAACP Image Award (Just Mercy) and inclusion in Time 100
Just Mercy won NAACP Image Award for Best Non-Fiction; Stevenson was listed in Time's '100 Most Influential People' in 2015.
Andrew Carnegie Medal and Dayton Literary Peace Prize
Just Mercy won the 2015 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize for Nonfiction.
Just Mercy adaptation announced and subsequently produced
Film adaptation of Just Mercy was announced (studio and production deals followed) leading to the 2019 film production and release.
EJI litigation scale milestone (nationwide impact)
EJI's litigation helped make Miller retroactive and potentially affected roughly 2,300 people sentenced to life as children; EJI also worked on exonerations and sentencing reform across many states.
Honorary degrees and recognitions (multiple)
Received multiple honorary degrees in 2016 (University of Delaware, Williams College, Wesleyan University and others) and other honors including ABA recognitions in subsequent years.
Montgomery v. Louisiana Supreme Court ruling (retroactivity)
U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Miller v. Alabama must be applied retroactively, potentially affecting thousands sentenced as children; EJI litigated in support of retroactivity.
Hosted and participated in numerous high-profile speaking engagements
Maintained an active public speaking schedule including TED, university commencements, public symposia and moderated events to fundraise and advocate for criminal-justice reform.
Named Public Interest Lawyer of the Year (National Association of Public Interest Lawyers earlier)
Previously recognized by public-interest legal organizations for his lifetime work (listed as earlier honors including Public Interest Lawyer of the Year).
EJI reported litigation results: dozens of exonerations and reversals
EJI and Stevenson's staff reported winning reversals, relief, or release for well over a hundred wrongly condemned prisoners and relief for hundreds more (ongoing tally).
EJI Legacy Sites planning and expansion
Continued to expand EJI's Legacy Sites project planning that culminated with the Legacy Museum and Memorial openings in 2018.
Commencement speaker (University of Delaware)
Delivered addresses and received honorary Doctor of Laws at several institutions including University of Delaware (2016).
Named one of Fortune's World's Greatest Leaders (2016, 2017)
Listed in Fortune's World's Greatest Leaders list for 2016 and 2017.
Inducted into American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (reported around 2014–2016 period in profiles).
Ware Lecture (93rd) at Unitarian Universalist Association
Delivered the 93rd Ware Lecture at the UUA General Assembly in New Orleans.
National Memorial for Peace and Justice opened
Opened the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, commemorating over 4,000 African American lynching victims from 1877–1950; part of EJI's Legacy Sites.
The Legacy Museum opened
Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration opened in Montgomery, connecting history of slavery and lynching to mass incarceration.
Benjamin Franklin Award (American Philosophical Society)
Received the Benjamin Franklin Award for distinguished public service from the American Philosophical Society.
Golden Plate Award (American Academy of Achievement)
Received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.
Supreme Court wins and litigation record milestone
By this period Stevenson had argued multiple cases at the U.S. Supreme Court and 'won all but one of the five cases he's argued' (EJI reports), including juvenile-sentencing victories and a 2019 ruling protecting condemned prisoners with dementia.
Film 'Just Mercy' premiered at TIFF; theatrical release Dec 25
Feature film adaptation of Just Mercy premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival; wide theatrical release on December 25, 2019; Stevenson served as executive producer.
Right Livelihood Award and multiple 2020 honors
Shared the Right Livelihood Award; received NACDL Lifetime Achievement Award and Global Citizen Prize for Global Citizen of the Year in 2020.
TED Talk view milestone
By April 2020 Stevenson's TED2012 talk had been viewed more than 6.5 million times online.
Fitzgerald Prize for Literary Excellence; National Humanities Medal (reported)
Received the Fitzgerald Prize for Literary Excellence; National Humanities Medal is listed among his honors (sources vary on exact year/citation).
Freedom, Justice, and Hope premiere at Jazz at Lincoln Center
Premiered 'Freedom, Justice, and Hope with Bryan Stevenson' with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra; included reflections and piano performances.
EJI reports saving over 130 people from death penalty (as of 2022)
EJI reported having saved more than 130 people from the death penalty through litigation and representation.
Commencement address and honorary doctorate at Eastern Mennonite University
Delivered EMU commencement and was awarded the university's second honorary doctorate (Doctorate of Humane Letters).
Elected to the American Philosophical Society
Reported election/association with the American Philosophical Society (sources list membership in 2024 as well).
Commencement speaker at Ohio State University
Delivered the Commencement address for The Ohio State University Class of 2023.
Gifted $100,000 to Bryan Allen Stevenson School of Excellence
Stevenson gifted a $100,000 grant to the Bryan Allen Stevenson School of Excellence (a free public charter school in Georgetown, Delaware founded by his cousin Alonna Berry).
Bryan Allen Stevenson School of Excellence founded by cousin (school named for him)
The Bryan Allen Stevenson School of Excellence, a free public charter school in Georgetown, Delaware, was founded by Alonna Berry; Stevenson provided a philanthropic grant.
Stockholm Prize in Criminology (announced)
Listed as recipient of the 2025 Stockholm Prize in Criminology (award announced in sources).
Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Citizen Leadership (announced)
Listed as a 2025 recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Citizen Leadership (UVA & Monticello).
Key Achievement Ages
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