Defender Nation and Beyond Mourns Passing of Civil Rights Champion Ronald J. Tabak

Ronald J. Tabak, a tireless criminal justice and civil rights advocate, died on July 22, 2025, at age 75. See also Death Penalty Information Center tribute and Latino Justice tribute. 

Ron joined the law firm of Skadden Arps in 1985 to launch and man­age its for­mal pro bono pro­gram, direct­ing crit­i­cal law firm resources to ensur­ing com­pe­tent rep­re­sen­ta­tion of death-sen­tenced peo­ple.

A passionate opponent of capital punishment, Mr. Tabak fought against it in court — including achieving a Supreme Court victory in Francis v. Franklin — and developed expertise in intellectual disability as a categorical bar to execution. He was instrumental in securing Georgia inmate Johnny Lee Gates’ removal from death row after 26 years of litigation to establish Mr. Gates’ intellectual disability. (Fifteen years later, DNA evidence raised serious questions about his guilt, leading to his release.)

For over 30 years, Mr. Tabak chaired or co-chaired the ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice’s Death Penalty Committee.

May his memory be a blessing.