On Saturday, May 3, 2025, Congressman Al Green received the esteemed Charles Hamilton Houston Medallion of Merit from the Washington Bar Association (WBA), the oldest and largest organization of Black attorneys in the Washington, D.C. area. The award, considered the WBA’s highest honor, was also presented to civil rights scholar Professor Sherrilyn Ifill during the association’s annual recognition ceremony.

The Charles Hamilton Houston Medallion of Merit is awarded to individuals who exemplify the enduring principles of civil rights leadership and public service. Named after WBA founder and pioneering civil rights attorney Charles Hamilton Houston—who played a pivotal role in dismantling Jim Crow segregation and was instrumental in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision—the award has historically recognized trailblazers who have advanced justice and equity under the law.

Past honorees include iconic figures such as Justice Thurgood Marshall, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Johnnie Cochran, Congressman John Lewis, Dr. Dorothy Height, Attorney General Eric Holder, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Valerie Jarrett, Justice Constance Baker Motley, and Marian Wright Edelman.

In his remarks, Congressman Green expressed gratitude for the honor, stating,

“I am deeply humbled to receive this award from the Washington Bar Association (WBA). To be included among such a distinguished group of civil rights giants is an extraordinary honor. I thank the WBA for its unwavering commitment to justice and for continuing to elevate voices that fight for equity under the law.”

The ceremony was attended by influential members of the legal community, including WBA President Joshuah R. Turner and President-Elect Cristina A. Beckles, who celebrated the contributions of both honorees in advancing civil rights and justice.

The recognition of Congressman Green underscores his longstanding commitment to social justice and civil rights advocacy, aligning him with the legacy of Charles Hamilton Houston and other historic recipients of this prestigious honor.