Samuel E. Ericsson, JD, DLitt
8001 Braddock Road, Suite 300
Springfield, VA  22151-2110
703.894.1084 ·  Fax 703.894.1074

An immigrant from Sweden, Mr. Ericsson is a 1966 graduate of the University of Southern California with a BA degree in Political Science.  He is 1969 graduate of Harvard Law School.  In the 1970s he was a partner with a major Los Angeles law firm specializing in complex business litigation.  In the 1980s he participated in over 50 U.S. Supreme Court briefs on church-state issues while directing the 4,500-member Christian Legal Society.  He was lead counsel in the landmark California Supreme Court case closing the door on so-called “clergy malpractice.” He was a key architect in opening public school campuses to Bible clubs by proposing the Equal Access Act passed by Congress in 1984.

In response to the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, Mr. Ericsson founded Advocates International in 1991 as a global network of lawyers, judges, and national leaders committed to religious liberty, human rights, conflict resolution, and Christian ethics. Advocates’ mission is to bear witness of Jesus Christ through the legal profession by encouraging and enabling advocates to meet locally, organize nationally, cooperate regionally and link globally. As of 2007, the network informally links 30,000 advocates in over 130 nations.

Since 1991, Mr. Ericsson has visited over 60 nations and addressed the U.N. Commission on Human Rights on behalf of persecuted believers.  He is a Fellow of the International Academy for the Defense of Religion and Belief.

He is the Year 2000 recipient of the Pro Fide Award given by Friends of the Martyred Church for his “outstanding impact on the lives of suffering Christians.”  He received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Trinity University Law School along with the Abraham Lincoln Leadership Award for “courage in adversity and unparalleled commitment to principled and ethical leadership that brings glory to God and inspires Christians to pursue His truth in all things.”

In 2000 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Christian Legal Society. In 2002, Mr. Ericsson also received the Mother Teresa Award presented by the President of Albania for exemplary service to Albania.

He is the co-author of The Battle for Religious Liberty and many articles on religious freedom, legal and Christian ethics.  He has been married to Bobby, an artist, nutritionist and therapist, for 36 years. They have three grown children, one grandson and expect another two grandchildren in 2007.

Education

• J.D., Harvard Law School, 1969
• B.A., University of Southern California, 1966

Employment

• President & CEO, Advocates International, 1991-present
• Executive Director, Christian Legal Society, 1985-1991 (serving 4,500 members)
• Director, Center for Law and Religious Freedom of Christian Legal Society, 1981-1985
• Executive Pastor, Grace Community Church, Los Angeles, 1977-1981 (15,000 attendees)
• Partner, Overton, Lyman & Prince, Los Angeles, 1969-1981 (anti-trust litigation)

Professional Experience

• Founder and President, Rule of Law Forum, serving the United Nations diplomatic community
• Developed international network of lawyers, judges, and national leaders linking 135 nations focused on religious freedom, human rights, conflict resolution, and professional ethics
• Advisor, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Helsinki Commission
• Member and counsel to First Step Forum, a European-based 15-person group of parliamentarians and diplomats engaged in a global proactive preventive approach to local religious conflict  
• Co-editor, Global Voice, monthly internet articles to 2,500 parliamentarians
• Participated in religious freedom conferences in 32 nations
• Founder and Board Member, Rule of Law Institute, Bulgaria
• Founder and Board Member, Rule of Law Institute, Mongolia
• Board Member, Faith, Hope and Love Legal Aid Foundation, helping Russian prisoners
• Addressed U.N. Commission on Human Rights on behalf of persecuted believers
• Participated in drafting laws impacting religious freedom in more than a dozen nations
• Counsel to the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission with alliances in 115 nations speaking on behalf of 150 million evangelicals
• Participated in 50 briefs before U.S. Supreme Court on church-state matters
• Architect of 1984 Equal Access Act passed by Congress to protect high school bible clubs
• Lead counsel in landmark California Supreme Court decision barring “clergy malpractice”
• Helped develop Christian Conciliation Service, an alternative dispute resolution program
• Editor-in-Chief, Religious Freedom Reporter, 1985-1991
• Co-author, Battle for Religious Liberty, published by David C. Cook, 1981

Honors & Awards

• Mother Teresa Award presented by the President of Albania for exemplary service to Albania, 2002
• Honorary Degree from Southwest University School of Law & History in Bulgaria, 2002
• Honorary Doctor of Letters, Trinity International University, 2000
• Abraham Lincoln Leadership Award, Trinity International University, 2000
• Pro Fide Award from a European group for work on behalf of persecuted believers, 2000
• Lifetime Achievement Award, Christian Legal Society, 2000
• Honorary Chairman, Center for Justice and Human Rights, South Korea, 1997
• Fellow, International Academy for the Defense of Religion and Belief, 1991
• Signor, Williamsburg Charter, reaffirming the Religion Clauses of the Bill of Rights, 1989