Law professor recognised for lifetime achievement in death penalty work

Professor Jon Yorke, Director of the Centre for Human Rights at Birmingham City University (BCU), received the Andrew Lee Jones Award at the 2024 Amicus Champion for Justice Awards held at the Old Bailey Hall in London on Tuesday 12 November.

“It is a great honour to receive an Amicus Champions of Justice Award,” said Professor Yorke, who has advised the United Nations and European Union on international human rights law.

“I have had the immense privilege of working with remarkable people at Amicus and around the world – and both Amicus and BCU have helped build the foundation of my career. Together, we have worked to help preserve human dignity across the globe.”

The Andrew Lee Jones Award is given to those who have demonstrated exceptional and extended commitment to the fight for justice on death row.

Denied access to proper legal representation, Andrew Lee Jones was tried and executed for murder in Louisiana in 1991 despite a lack of clear evidence. Amicus was founded a year later to help others in similar situations.

Professor Yorke started his law journey in the US, working at the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System in 1996 and the Federal Public Defenders Office in 1997.

Recently named BCU’s Researcher of the Year, he has been involved with Amicus for almost three decades. He has provided education and training for thousands of UK law students and lawyers, served as joint editor of the Amicus Journal, and was an Amicus Trustee.

“There is a nice synergy with the Champion of Justice Award as I was part of the first group of interns to go to America from the School of Law here,” he said.

“I was also one of the first to receive an Amicus scholarship for this work.”

Professor Yorke campaigned publicly against Alabama’s use of nitrogen gas inhalation to execute Kenneth Eugene Smith in January 2024.

The BCU academic also claimed the case was a clear miscarriage of justice.

Dr Alice Storey, Senior Lecturer in the College of Law, Social and Criminal Justice and Associate Director of the Centre for Human Rights, praised Professor Yorke for his “tireless work” supporting those facing the death penalty across the world.

BCU Law Student, Shravani Chotai, who worked with Professor Yorke and Dr Amna Nazir on the death penalty report for Qatar's UN Universal Periodic Review, added: "Professor Jon Yorke's unwavering dedication to his students and his projects is truly commendable.

“His passion for teaching and his commitment to making a positive impact in the world is empowering. Thank you for consistently going above and beyond!"