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Key Facts
- Federal level: Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen served New Jersey in Congress from 1995 through 2019.
- Federal level: Congressman Frelinghuysen and lawyer Richard Leefe served together in the 93rd Engineering Battalion during the Vietnam War.
- Federal level: The two men reunited in Washington, D.C., in April 2013 after a period of 42 years.
- Federal level: Frelinghuysen received the American Bar Association’s Congressional Justice Award in 2013 for his work preserving civil legal funding.
- Federal level: The Legal Services Corporation operates as the largest funder of civil legal aid in the United States.
- State level: In 2013, Richard Leefe attended the capital advocacy event in his capacity as the president-elect of the Louisiana State Bar Association.
Last reviewed: May 2026. Legal rules, forms, deadlines, and procedures can change by jurisdiction, agency, and court system.
In April 2013, the American Bar Association held its annual lobbying campaign in Washington, D.C., known as “ABA Day.” This event provided the setting for an unexpected historical reunion between two men who had not seen each other in 42 years.
Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen, who served New Jersey in Congress from 1995 through 2019, reconnected with lawyer Richard Leefe outside the congressman’s office. The encounter brought together two individuals with a shared military history.
The two men previously served together during the Vietnam War. While deployed with the 93rd Engineering Battalion, Frelinghuysen was assigned as a clerk to Leefe, who served as an officer in charge of the unit.
At the time of the 2013 meeting, Leefe was a founder of the law firm Leefe, Gibbs, Sullivan & Dupré and the president-elect of the Louisiana State Bar Association. He traveled to the capital to participate in discussions regarding justice system initiatives, similar to past initiatives involving election reform, legal education, and veterans aid addressed by the ABA.
A central focus of the advocacy efforts during the 2013 ABA Day was securing and preserving financial support for civil legal aid programs across the country.
During the event, the American Bar Association recognized Frelinghuysen as one of six members of Congress to receive the Congressional Justice Award. The association honored him for his legislative efforts to preserve funding for civil legal assistance within the Hurricane Sandy relief legislation.
The advocacy centered on the Legal Services Corporation, an independent nonprofit established by Congress. The Legal Services Corporation continues to operate as the largest funder of civil legal aid in the United States, providing grants to local legal aid organizations that assist individuals facing civil legal challenges.
