Washington, DC (July 14, 2025)– William H. Buckman, a renowned New Jersey civil rights and criminal defense attorney, received the Robert C. Heeney Memorial Award from the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) at the association’s annual meeting in Minneapolis, MN. The Robert C. Heeney Memorial Award is given annually to the criminal defense attorney who best exemplifies the goals and values of the Association and the legal profession.
In 1996, Buckman won national recognition for his victory in State v. Soto, a landmark case which helped end the practice of racial profiling on New Jersey’s highways. In Soto, Buckman proved that New Jersey State Troopers were targeting Black and Latino motorists and successfully suppressed drug evidence against his client and 16 other defendants. In 1999, the state entered into a consent decree with the U.S. Justice Department which placed state police under an independent monitor and required improved officer training and documentation of traffic stops, among other reforms.
"Bill Buckman was a former Treasurer and longtime Board Member," said NACDL Past President Christopher Wellborn. "He was an NACDL stalwart who embodied the best of NACDL. He advocated for the cause of humane treatment of accused persons and with equal measure the reform of the criminal legal system. Bill was a mentor to numerous criminal lawyers throughout the country and unhesitantly gave his time and energy to assist all who asked. In short, he cared deeply for all of us and our clients."
In 1997, Buckman founded the William H. Buckman Law Firm in Moorestown, New Jersey, where he continued to fight police misconduct, advocate for civil rights, and take on high profile criminal cases. In 2012, he helped sue the State of New Jersey for its failure to implement the Compassionate Use of Medical Marijuana Act. He held leadership positions at the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey and received many awards for his advocacy.
