Remembering Robert F. Drinan, S.J.

Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics, The, Spring 2007 by Rotunda, Ronald D

Bob Drinan founded the National Interreligious Task Force on Soviet Jewry. He was a strong supporter of emigration rights for Soviet Jews. In 1977, he wrote a book entitled, Honor the Promise: America's Commitment to Israel.14 The plight of Soviet Jews was just one of the many causes that was close to Bob Drinan's heart.

The American Bar Association honored Bob in 2004 by giving him the ABA's highest honor, the ABA Medal.15 Previous recipients have included Oliver Wendell Holmes, Felix Frankfurter, Leon Jaworski, and Thurgood Marshall. ABA President Dennis Archer, the first African-American to hold this position,16 presented the ABA Medal to Bob.

When Archer first announced that the ABA had selected Bob as the recipient, he said,

[i]n an amazing career that has spanned more than half a century, Father Drinan has never faltered in his extraordinary humanitarian efforts and support for justice under the law. He has demonstrated to lawyers what it means to be committed to public service and to countless law students what is embodied in the highest dedication to ethical, moral legal practice. By his standards of leadership, he contributes to the luster and dignity of our award.17

Bob Drinan took many controversial positions during his lifetime of public service. We did not always agree with him, but we could never fault his dedication.

In 1995, the ABA also gave Father Drinan the Michael Franck Professional Responsibility Award based on his dedication to issues of professional responsibility, as illustrated by his creating and founding The Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics in 1987.18 In 2001, the ABA section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities created the Robert F. Drinan Award for Distinguished Service to the section.19 This award recognizes individuals whose sustained commitment to the section "has advanced its mission of providing leadership to the legal profession in protecting and advancing human rights, civil liberties, and social justice."20 The ABA traditionally awards this medal at the ABA Midyear Meeting. The first recipient was, of course, Robert F. Drinan.21

More recently, Bob Drinan received the 2006 Congressional Distinguished Service Award. The Award is given to "former Members of the House who have performed their duties on behalf of their constituents and the American people with such extraordinary distinction and selfless dedication as to merit special recognition."22 And, in October 2006, Georgetown University Law Center established the Robert F. Drinan, S.J., Chair in Human Rights to honor his half century involvement in the cause.23

Bob touched many lives during his long career as lawyer, dean, congressman, author, and professor. His books and articles-his so-called "paper trail"-reveal the advocate and the scholar, but not the real man. William Wordsworth recognized that the "best portion of a good man's life [are] [h]is little, nameless, unremembered acts [o]f kindness and of love."24 And that-for those of us who had the pleasure of knowing Bob Drinan-is how we will remember him.