Damon Hewitt named new government director of Attorneys’ Committee for Civil Rights Beneath Legislation | Richmond Free Press

The executive committee of the Washington, DC-based Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law has announced that veteran civil rights attorney and policy expert Damon Hewitt will serve as the organization’s next president and executive director.

Mr. Hewitt, who previously served as the organization’s executive vice president, will succeed Kristen Clarke, who was recently confirmed by the Senate as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the Department of Justice.

According to the Lawyers’ Committee, Mr. Hewitt has over 20 years of civil litigation and policy experience, including previous leadership roles in the nonprofit, philanthropic and public sectors. As Executive Vice President of the National Lawyers’ Committee, he coordinated the organization’s strategic, programmatic, and operational efforts to advance the fight for racial justice.

“I am thrilled to have this opportunity to lead the talented team on the National Legal Committee,” Hewitt said in a press release. “Whenever our most basic rights have been assaulted, our organization, along with a vast network of allies and partners in the private law firm, has responded to the call.

“At a time when our nation is at an important turning point in terms of racial justice and justice, I look forward to building on this proud tradition as we deepen our partnership with the private bar association nationwide and re-energize the fight for racial justice . Together we can make the promises of our democracy true and accessible to blacks, other colored people and all Americans. “

Retired Judge Shira Scheindlin, co-chair of the National Lawyers’ Committee Board of Directors, recalled that “the last year has been a critical year in the battle against those who sought years of advances in justice and legislation in ensuring civil rights for to destroy all people ”. the color. But the fight is not over. The next level requires equal or greater determination and strategic thinking to regain and increase the progress made to ensure civil rights are guaranteed for all. That’s why Damon Hewitt is the right moment for the National Lawyers Committee, ”she said.

“Damon’s extensive civil rights defense and advancement experience and strong relationships with other civil rights organizations will strengthen the organization’s partnerships and alliances and expand our collaboration with the private lawyer-service in the fight to protect civil rights in the United States,” she said.

Joseph K. West, also co-chair of the board, said, “We believe Damon’s strong leadership and civil rights experience will continue to focus our legal strategies and strengthen and expand our partnerships with the private law association and the broader civil rights community. .. Damon’s entire career has been focused on reaching and representing historically underrepresented populations in America, and I look forward to working with him and my fellow board members to better position and improve our legal and civil rights work. “

The Lawyers Committee said Mr. Hewitt’s experience was one of his best leadership qualities.

“Hewitt’s outstanding track record speaks for itself as a litigator, strategist and bridge builder in a variety of organizations and coalitions. Over the course of his career, he has helped lead efforts on issues critical to the advancement of racial justice, from education and voting rights to fair housing and criminal justice, ”the press release reads.

Prior to joining the National Advisory Board, Mr. Hewitt was the first executive director of the Executives’ Alliance for Boys and Men of Color, a philanthropic network of more than three dozen national and local foundation presidents focused on strategic and aligned investment, policy endeavors Changes and the strengthening of the infrastructure at the intersection of race and gender.

For more than a decade, Mr. Hewitt served as an attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, where he led the organization’s response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and later led the education litigation and policy list.

He was also a senior advisor to the Open Society Foundations, coordinating specific projects including philanthropic responses to the post-police murder of unarmed blacks in Ferguson, Missouri and Baltimore.

Mr. Hewitt is also a co-author of The School-to-Prison Pipeline: Structuring Legal Reform and has published numerous legislative reviews and articles in the mass media on topics ranging from school discipline and progressive educational reform to electoral law and juvenile justice.

Mr. Hewitt is from New Orleans and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Louisiana State University and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. After studying law, he worked for Judge Eric L. Clay at the US 6th Court of Appeals.