Carol Sobel was senior staff counsel and had worked for the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California for 15 years, specializing in First Amendment issues, at the time of her 1991 "Freethought Heroine" Award. Just about any significant state/church case out of Southern California has Carol's imprimatur on it, the Foundation staff noted, in introducing Carol. She argued the case against commencement prayers, representing Jean Bertolette, and successfully argued an appeal to halt a Christian theme park on public land in Yucca Valley, California, which included plaintiff Darrell Barker, a Foundation member.

"There are really very few attorneys who have expertise or concern about the Establishment Clause, and very few with Carol's credentials and experience. We regard her as a true Freethought Heroine," Foundation staff noted.