Cory M. Amron, Life Fellow, Judge J. Michelle Childs, Patron Fellow, Mary L. Smith, Patron Fellow, and Sheila S. Boston, Life Fellow, were named as four of the recipients of the 2026 Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award. They will be honored during the award ceremony and reception on August 2, 2026 at the ABA Annual Conference.
Cory M. Amron is the co-founder and president of Women Lawyers on Guard Inc. (WLG), a national non-profit organization addressing four areas: sexual harassment, women’s reproductive rights, gender and workplace equity, and strengthening democracy. She previously served as the second chair of the ABA Commission on Women.
Judge J. Michelle Childs currently serves as a US circuit judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and was appointed in July 2022. She is a past president of the Federal Judges Association and has been named to the American Inns of Court Board of Trustees and the U.S. Supreme Court Fellows Commission.
Mary L. Smith is a former president of the ABA and was the first Native American woman in the role. As one of her Presidential initiatives, she created the Task Force for American Democracy. She currently serves on the board of PTC Therapeutics, Inc., where she sits on the audit and compensation committees.
Sheila S. Boston is currently a litigation partner at Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer. She is currently the vice president of the Federal Bar Council and is a past president of the New York City Bar Association. She was the first woman of color to serve as president of the NYCBA.
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