After graduation, Mikva clerked for Supreme Court Justice Sherman Minton. Abner Mikva, a close friend, said that as a judge, Stevens refused to discuss politics. Both parties attempted to redistrict Mikva out of Congress. He then resigned his congressional seat (Porter succeeded Mikva after a special election). Mikva and his parents spoke Yiddish at home. Mikva instead moved to the North Shore's 10th District. In 2014 Obama honored Mikva with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Obama awarded Mikva the Presidential Medal of Freedom on November 24, 2014. In November 2004, Mikva was an international election monitor of Ukraine's contested presidential election. Mikva is married to Steven H. Cohen, an attorney, and they have two daughters. Thurmond was one of the five Republicans to vote against Mikva.