Congratulations to attorney Robert J. Muise who is the winner of the 2025 Saint Thomas More Award from the Catholic Lawyers Guild of the Diocese of Lansing for distinguished service in the field of constitutional law through many court cases defending the right to life and the rights of religious liberty and free speech.
“It’s a great honor, it feels undeserved, but I'm so grateful for it,” said Mr. Muise, October 7, “Saint Thomas More is an incredible saint and has been an incredible inspiration to me all through my law career and, so, to receive an award that's in his name is quite an honor.”
Mr. Muise received his award at a reception following the Catholic Lawyers Guild’s 40th Annual Red Mass at Saint Mary’s Cathedral in Lansing where Bishop Earl Boyea was the principal celebrant. He is pictured above with Will Bloomfield, General Counsel for the Diocese of Lansing and President of the Catholic Lawyers Guild of the Diocese of Lansing.
The award citation noted that Mr. Muise is a Catholic husband, father and grandfather, whose life and work “has been animated by his deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ and his love for the Catholic Church, the Truth, his family, and his country.”
Mr. Muise served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps for 13 years, nine years as an infantry officer before attending the University of Notre Dame while a captain on active duty. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Notre Dame Law School in 1997 and served for several years as a Marine Judge Advocate, attaining the rank of Major.
In 2012, Mr. Muise co-founded the Michigan-based American Freedom Law Center which describes its mission as fighting “for faith and freedom through litigation, education, and public policy programs.”
“I think Robert deserves this award because of the level of his incredible sacrifice he has made on behalf of his pro-life defendants,” said Dr. Monica Migliorino Miller, Director Citizens for a Pro-Life Society, pictured below, who has herself been legally represented by Mr. Muise.
“These are very difficult cases to win, and yet Robert is still willing to go for it, and to be there for us, to sacrifice so much for us, including doing these cases pro bono, he just pours himself right into it, and we are enormously grateful.”
Saint Thomas More was a 16th century English statesman who forfeited high office, and ultimately his life, as Chancellor to King Henry VIII in order to uphold the truth of marriage and defend the Church’s divine foundation in the face of the monarch’s break with Rome in pursuit of canonical approval for his adulterous relationship with his mistress, Anne Boleyn. Saint Thomas was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1935.
