Global Jurist of the Year
2026 Global Jurist of the Year Award – Call for Nominations
The Center for International Human Rights at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law invites nominations for its 2026 Global Jurist of the Year Award. The Award is granted annually to a sitting judge in recognition of that judge’s contribution to the advancement of international human rights law. Special account is taken of those who have shown outstanding dedication to the rule of law and courage in the face of adversity, including personal risk.
Nominations should be submitted no later than October 9, 2026.
2025 GLOBAL JURIST OF THE YEAR
Judge Fernando Cruz Castro
On April 15th, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law’s Center for International Human Rights (CIHR) awarded its tenth Global Jurist of the Year Award to Justice Fernando Cruz Castro of Costa Rica. Although he was unable to join us in person, we were honored to celebrate his remarkable career contributions to human rights and the rule of law with our community. The evening brought together students, alumni, faculty, and friends to hear from UN Special Rapporteur Margaret Satterthwaite and Judge Cruz Castro on the importance of independent judges in protecting fundamental rights all over the world. Read more about Judge Cruz Castro here.
The Global Jurist of the Year Award is co-sponsored by the Buffett Institute for Global Affairs.
Previous award recipients include:
2024 - Colombian Judge Belkis Izquierdo Torres - Aty Seikuinduwa
2023 - Polish national Judge Igor Tuleya
2022 - Guatemalan Judge Miguel Ángel Gálvez
2021 - Women Judges in Afghanistan
2020 - Justice Mumbi Ngugi, High Court of Kenya | Recordings: Session 1 ⋅ Session 2
2016 - Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella, Supreme Court of Canada
2015 - Judge Gloria Patricia Porras Escobar, President of the Guatemalan Constitutional Court
2014 - Justice Shireen Avis Fisher, President of the Special Court for Sierra Leone
2013 - Acting Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke of South Africa’s Constitutional Court
