Justice William O. Douglas made extraordinary advances in honoring the Bill of Rights, in advancing due process and equal protection of the law, in promoting conservation and protection of our Earth, in understanding cultures abroad and at home, and in preserving Native American and Yakima Valley history and culture.  

The William O. Douglas Award recognizes an individual, or individuals, who, in their own way, have made extraordinary advances to one or more of these causes and has thus carried on his legacy and the values he espoused.  

Honoree: The Honorable Sally Jewel

As U.S. Secretary of the Interior from 2013 to 2017, Ms. Jewell was recognized for using a science-based, landscape-level, collaborative approach to natural resources management. She demonstrated a commitment to connecting people to nature, particularly youth, with efforts to encourage tens of millions of young people to play, learn, serve and work on public lands.  She was a committed advocate for upholding trust and treaty rights of indigenous communities and supporting a brighter future for Native youth. 

And, as a business person, first in banking and later leading outdoor retailer REI, Sally Jewell was recognized for bringing diverse coalitions of people together to solve complex challenges in support of a sustainable future for our natural world. 

Ms. Jewell’s lifetime commitment to championing the importance of science to better understand the earth’s systems, encouraging the sustainable use of water in the West and long-term conservation of the nation’s irreplaceable natural, cultural and historic treasures, more than qualifies her for this award. 

Keynote Speaker: The Honorable Judge M. Margaret McKeown

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit:

Judge McKeown’s address is a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) event. Justice William O. Douglas was the longest serving justice, then or now, on the US Supreme Court (1939-1975).  Although often remembered for his landmark decisions on privacy and civil rights, this session will focus on his environmental legacy—both on and off the court.  The speaker will survey the justice’s place in history and how Justice Douglas’s opinions reflect his commitment to the environment and conservation.