Congratulations to the 2026 Olom Awardees!

CCDB is pleased to honor:

• Jessica Meza - recipient of the Jonathan Olom Award
• Christie Donner - recipient of the Advancing Justice Award
• Jason Middleton - recipient of the Alvin D. Lichtenstein Lifetime Achievement Award

These awardees will be honored at the Olom Awards Reception on Friday May 29, 2026, at the University of Denver's Knoebel Event Center. Join us! Learn more and register.

Awards and Criteria

For past award recipients, see below.

The Jonathan Olom Award

This award serves as a memorial to the remarkable Colorado defense attorney Jonathan Olom. Intended to perpetuate his example and encourage others to follow the principles he lived and practiced, the Jonathan Olom Award is presented annually to an outstanding attorney of the criminal defense community based on their activities and accomplishments over the previous year. 

Factors considered by the awards committee include: 

• Willingness to defend a client without regard to public sentiment
• Professional excellence displayed in the face of adversity
• Adherence to high ethical standards
• Willingness to assist, teach, and advise other practitioners
• Significant contributions and improvements to the practice of criminal defense

This award is given to a CCDB member who best demonstrates these qualities regardless of their type of criminal defense work, cases, or years in practice. 

The Advancing Justice Award

This award is given to any attorney, non-attorney, or ally whose work to advance and uphold the principles of CCDB has had an exceptional impact on the criminal justice system and those accused of crimes, or for outstanding service to the criminal defense community. There is no requirement that this award be given each year. 

Factors considered by the awards committee include:  

• Unwavering dedication to creating a more fair and equitable criminal justice system
• Outstanding participation in the practice of criminal defense, not limited to legal representation of a client
• Service as a role model or mentor for those new to criminal defense
• Leadership in local defense organizations or community organizations 
• Participation in policy and legislative activities that benefit the criminal defense bar 
• Commitment to CCDB and its membership 
• Generosity of spirit; personal sacrifice; creativity in criminal defense 

The Alvin D. Lichtenstein Lifetime Achievement Award

This award is given in recognition of remarkable accomplishments over a lifetime of distinguished service as a criminal defense attorney in Colorado. It honors those by whom other attorneys conform their own conduct—“What would she do? How would he address the court?”—and commends the rare, standout individual who has taken on issues that help clients in more ways than the boundaries of a criminal defense case. The awardee has been relentless in positively and uniquely contributing to the criminal justice system throughout their long and distinguished career. There is no requirement that this award be given each year.

More Criteria: CCDB's Commitment to DEI

CCDB strives to live out its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its programs and activities, including the Olom Awards. This helps ensure our nominees, awardees, and award committee members represent the multitude of backgrounds, perspectives, and beliefs of our members and constituents. 

CCDB’s diversity statement: Equitable representation is indispensable for competent representation. CCDB combats the inequities, discrimination, and inequalities of the criminal legal system by giving members tools to confront bias. We advocate for diversity on the bench and legislative action to effect change. We prioritize inclusion—for our members and for the entire legal community.

Past Winners

The Jonathan Olom Award

"For remarkable personal sacrifice made without regards to personal gain in the defense of the accused"

Past recipients:

The Advancing Justice Award

The Alvin D. Lichtenstein Award

"For remarkable accomplishments over a lifetime of distinguished service"

Past recipients: 

The CCDB Gideon Award