WASHINGTON – Alliance Defending Freedom presented its 2026 Edwin Meese III Originalism & Religious Liberty Award to The Honorable Noel Francisco, partner-in-charge at Jones Day’s Washington office, at a ceremony last week with 1,100 in attendance.
“Alliance Defending Freedom is honored to present the 2026 Meese Award to The Honorable Noel Francisco. As solicitor general of the United States, and throughout his career, he has argued some of the most consequential cases of our time with fidelity to the law and the courage to say what the law requires,” said ADF CEO, President, and Chief Counsel Kristen Waggoner. “Noel boldly advocates for every person’s God-given right to live and speak the truth. He is sharp, faithful, and resolute, and we are grateful to stand beside him in the work of defending freedom.”
“I could not be more honored to accept this award. While I owe everything I’ve had the opportunity to do in my career to many different people, there’s no one more important than the namesake of this award, Mr. Ed Meese,” Francisco said. “Our founding fathers understood that religion was not just a voice but the critical voice in the debate over how to exercise the enormous power of democracy. That’s why it’s such a privilege to work alongside Alliance Defending Freedom. We must continue to ensure that religious voices have a full seat at the table of democracy.”
A leading authority on constitutional originalism and religious liberty, Francisco served as U.S. solicitor general from 2017–2020. He has argued 25 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, including Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Elenis alongside Waggoner when he was solicitor general. He also successfully argued Zubik v. Burwell, which challenged federal regulations that violated Catholic organizations’ religious beliefs.
Francisco clerked for Judge J. Michael Luttig of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit and then for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. He went on to serve as associate counsel to President George W. Bush and as a deputy assistant attorney general in the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Legal Counsel.
The Meese Award, which is named in honor of former Attorney General Edwin Meese, is the highest award ADF bestows. Meese’s wisdom and friendship provided crucial guidance and support to ADF in its formative years, and his life’s work embodies a commitment to the Constitution, textual originalism, and religious liberty. ADF presents this award each year to a leader who has walked boldly into the wind and has defended the Constitution’s first freedom with courage, conviction, and fidelity to the text.
“I am honored to have my name associated with this award, which has been distinguished by the outstanding individuals who have received the award in past years,” Meese said. “That tradition continues today with our recipient, Noel Francisco, who has an illustrious record on behalf of fidelity to the Constitution and religious liberty in the legal profession.”
Past award recipients include U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Judge Robert Bork, Archbishop Charles Chaput, Dr. Albert Mohler, Ambassador Sam Brownback, Chuck Colson, Dr. Thomas Farr, Professor Robert P. George, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch.
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.
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