Public Counsel to Honor Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Elie Wiesel and Celebrate Fight for Justice in Our Communities on April 22

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Actors William H. Macy and Jon Voight to present awards; videos from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Natalie Portman and more at the annual William O. Douglas Dinner

LOS ANGELES, April 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Elie Wiesel will receive Public Counsel's William O. Douglas Award at our annual event in Los Angeles on April 22, 2012.

Professor and Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel was 15 years old when he was deported to Auschwitz, and his mother, father, and younger sister perished in the Holocaust. After the war, Wiesel became convinced that he should no longer remain silent about what he had witnessed as a prisoner in the Nazi death camps, and he wrote Night, an account of his experience. Since its publication in 1956, Night has been translated into over 30 languages.

"Elie Wiesel's courage in telling his story of struggle and survival changed the course of history, and he has spent his career battling intolerance and injustice," said Public Counsel President and CEO Hernan D. Vera. "Public Counsel strives to follow his example, to help others change their lives and to be a force for good in our society."

The William O. Douglas Award is named for the late Supreme Court justice noted for his support for civil rights and freedom of speech. Past recipients of the award include President Bill Clinton, Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, and Peace Corps founder Sargent Shriver.

Warner Bros. Entertainment will receive the Corporate Achievement Award for its work to support and strengthen organizations like Public Counsel.

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi will present the Founders Award to Public Counsel board member and former Chair David Johnson. Johnson is the founder of Act 4 Entertainment, a filmed entertainment and new media content company to inspire social action. He is also co-chair of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP will receive the Law Firm Pro Bono Award for its important commitment to justice.

Public Counsel is the nation's largest not-for-profit law firm of its kind. Visit www.publiccounsel.org to learn more.

SOURCE Public Counsel