William O. Douglas Awards Banquet on YouTube

Video of the William O. Douglas Awards Banquet is now available to view on YouTube.

The Yakima Valley Museum hosted the William O. Douglas Awards Banquet on August 23, 2025. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil M. Gorsuch received the William O. Douglas Award for his steadfast leadership in defense of Native American treaty rights. Treaty rights were a continuing interest for Justice William O. Douglas during his tenure on the U.S. Supreme Court from 1939 to 1975. 

In her presentation of the award at the Yakima Convention Center, Museum Executive Director Liz Hobson praised Justice Gorsuch’s conviction, courage, and clarity in the defense of treaties with Native Americans. “If there is a theme in Justice Gorsuch’s opinions on treaty rights, it is one that Justice Douglas would have endorsed: with treaty rights, promises made must be promises kept,” Hobson said.

In addition to the Douglas Award, the Yakima Valley Museum presented a special Lifetime Achievement Award to Cathleen Douglas Stone, philanthropist, trailblazer and widow of William O. Douglas. Stone was recognized for decades of dedication to environmental stewardship, civil rights, and community service. “Cathy acts as a catalyst for the Museum to play a vital role in fostering the next generation of thinkers and problem solvers in the Yakima River Valley,” said Cragg Gilbert, president of the Yakima Valley Museum Board of Trustees.

The Yakima Valley Museum also presented awards to this year's winners of the William O. Douglas Essay Contest. College level winners include Rebeca Gomez, Vinson Russell, Jr., and Emmerson Miller. The High School level winner was Audrey Livingston.

Following the presentation of the awards, Justice Gorsuch participated in a fireside chat with Senior Judge M. Margaret McKeown of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and Chief Justice Debra L. Stephens of the Washington State Supreme Court. The audience included civic leaders, judges and other members of the legal community, tribal leaders, and supporters of the museum. The event celebrated the influence and continued relevance of Douglas, who grew up in Yakima and is the longest-serving justice in U.S. history.

You can watch the presentation of the awards to Justice Gorsuch and Cathleen Douglas, the presentation of the winners of the William O. Douglas Essay Contest, and the fireside chat with Justice Gorsuch, Senior Judge McKeown, and Chief Justice Stephens on YouTube.