A.C.L.U. Looking For New Legal Director As David Cole Steps Down

ACLU IG The American Civil Liberties Union has been the driving force behind some substantial cases over the last few years. They’ve fought against Trump’s Muslim ban, defended the NRA’s right to speech, and protected LGBTQ employees from work place discrimination. David Cole has been at the helm of these cases, among others, for the last eight years. Now he’s looking to pass the baton. From the New York Times:

Mr. Cole is returning to Georgetown but will stay at the A.C.L.U. until his successor is chosen. That person will face a different litigation landscape than the one Mr. Cole encountered in 2016.

“It has become a more challenging environment to defend civil rights and civil liberties as a result of the Trump appointees, particularly on the Court of Appeals and in the Supreme Court,” he said.

Still, he said, “I don’t leave with any concern about the A.C.L.U.’s ability to fight back.”

A silver lining for Cole’s successor is that they will likely have a much better assessment of what to expect from the position. Going into the job, it looked like Cole was about to enter a climate well-suited for progressive interests. Hilary Clinton was a shoo-in for the presidency, and while the court was still 5-4 in the conservatives’ favor, there was still hope for well-reasoned and meaningful decisions to come. Then reality hit. Hard.

This is NOT what courts are supposed to do. We give them the authority they have in a democracy so they can protect those who can’t protect themselves through the political process. Not so they can do the bidding of the powerful https://t.co/pVpfK3IBOQ

— David Cole (@DavidColeACLU) July 10, 2024

Despite the difficulties that have come to pass, Cole is still an advocate for advocacy:

We wish the best of luck to the A.C.L.U. in its future endeavors. With this Court, they’re probably going to need it.

After Eight Turbulent Years, A.C.L.U.’s Legal Director to Step Down [New York Times]

Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s. He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who cannot swim, a published author on critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at [email protected] and by tweet at @WritesForRent.