WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. Peter Welch issued the following press release:
U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate's only former Public Defender, was honored with the 2026 American Bar Association (ABA) Justice Award for his fight to fully fund federal defender programs.
"The rule of law is under assault in this country like never before, and serious questions are being raised about whether the government will, and is, complying with federal courts. As a former public defender, I know how important it is for people to be represented. Each and every one of us should do everything we can to stand up for the constitutional rights of all Americans," said Senator Welch. "The ABA has a spec...