On October 24, 2026, Live Action presented Thomas More Society Founder, President, and Chief Counsel Tom Brejcha with its Life Award at the annual Life Awards Gala in Huntington Beach, California. Live Action Founder and President Lila Rose hosted the evening, which honors “outspoken defenders of preborn children and their families within media, politics, entertainment and activism.” Tom shared the honor with fellow 2026 awardees Dr. Alveda King and Catherine Herring.

The award recognizes a career spent defending life in the courtroom. Tom founded Thomas More Society in 1998. Before that, he had already spent over a decade defending pro-life activist Joe Scheidler in NOW v. Scheidler. That litigation lasted 28 years and reached the U.S. Supreme Court three times. It reach a conclusion in 2006 with a unanimous ruling that protected peaceful pro-life demonstrators from being prosecuted as racketeers. Under Tom’s leadership, the firm he started has become a national public interest law firm. Today it defends pro-life advocates, sidewalk counselors, pregnancy centers, parents, and people of faith across the country, without charge.

The honor also reflects a long friendship. Tom has stood by Live Action since its earliest days, helping defend the organization and its undercover investigative work when it first faced legal threats. That partnership continues today. This past August, the pro-abortion group Amplify Legal sent Live Action a cease-and-desist letter, demanding that Live Action take down its reporting and stop describing abortion as “killing” preborn children. Thomas More Society stepped in to defend Live Action and rejected the demand outright, with Thomas More Society Executive Vice President and Head of Litigation Peter Breen calling the letter “a meritless threat aimed at silencing Live Action’s pro-life speech, not winning a lawsuit.”

The evening also looked ahead. In her keynote address, Lila Rose said the movement has reached a turning point. Much has changed in hearts and minds, she noted, yet “more than 1 million children are killed by abortion” each year in America. Still, Lila reminded the audience that real conversion is a gift no argument can force. “We cannot argue somebody into receiving the gift,” she said. “That is why prayer is the most important part of our work.”

In a moving tribute after the gala, Lila Rose captured why Live Action chose to honor Tom:

“Behind the pro-life movement are courageous attorneys who defend our right to protect unborn babies. That’s why we honored Tom Brejcha as our second Life Awardee. As the founder, president, and chief counsel of the Thomas More Society, Tom has spent decades defending the rights of pro-life advocates and fighting to protect unborn children.”

Thomas More Society congratulates Tom on this well-deserved recognition and thanks Live Action for honoring him. Tom has always said that "the best is yet"—and with that spirit and sentiment we continue the battle for life, family, and freedom, across the country.