Message From the Chair
Welcome to the Civil Rights Law Section!
We are a diverse group of government, nonprofit, and private practitioners—from both sides of the “v.”—who share an interest in some of the most important issues litigated in federal courts: constitutional rights, fair housing, disability discrimination, education, immigration, Indian law, LGBTQIA+ rights, employment, public access, and many more.
We invite everyone, whether you practice in any of those areas, in any civil rights-“adjacent” areas, or just have an interest in civil rights law, to join us. We extend a special welcome and invitation to lawyers and law students from nontraditional backgrounds, with nontraditional practice areas, or with disabilities. You are welcome and valued here.
We encourage you to attend our regular Section Board meetings on the Third Wednesday of the month, conducted via Zoom (as our membership believes it’s the most accessible online meeting platform). For the login information for our meetings, please email our FBA staff liaison at sections@fedbar.org. If you are an individual with a disability who needs accommodation to access our programming or meetings, please contact me or sections@fedbar.org to request accommodations.
The Section offers great value for its members. We have once again been honored with the FBA’s Section and Division Recognition Award, which is a testament to our strength and focus on continuing legal education programs, our exceptional newsletter, and other professional development programs and opportunities.
The Section’s continuing education opportunities are as diverse as our membership. In the past few years, we have sponsored or co-sponsored numerous on-line and in-person panels about § 1983 practice, fair housing law, qualified immunity, COVID responses, implicit bias, disability inclusion, representing noncitizens in immigration court proceedings, Supreme Court reviews, and other topics. Every other year, we organized a day-and-a-half CLE in New Orleans offering a boot camp on § 1983 practice and highly specialized civil rights topics called the Civil Rights Étouffée. In 2025, the Étouffée will be held on February 13–14. Check your emails for specifics, follow us on social media, and check out our website dedicated to our in-person programming at https://www.Etouffeelaw.com!
Our newsletter is also can’t-miss. Our newsletter will now focus on case updates in various practice areas as well as longer articles on topics of interest to civil rights practitioners and updates on the Section’s activities. Check out the current and back issues at https://www.fedbar.org/civil-rights-law-section/civilrights/civil-rights-insider/
The section offers other programs and benefits to members, too. Our amicus committee is active, providing insightful briefs in cases of national importance to our members. Our topical subcommittees offer specific resources for practitioners.
In this coming year we also plan to host the second edition of our nationwide civil rights book club, with an on-line national speaker and local chapter socialization.
Our successes past and future depend on our past leaders and current bench strength, and that continues with the 2024–25 term. Our officers from last year continue for the second of their two-year terms, and include:
- Eric Foley, Chair
- Kate Simpson, Chair-Elect
- Lauren DiMartino, Secretary-Treasurer
And our stellar past chairs remain active in the section, including Immediate Past Chair Kyle Kaiser and past chairs Robin Wagner, Stephen Haedicke, Wylie Stecklow, and Eileen Rosen.
Our section cannot function without its Designated Board Members, including:
- Membership Coordinator, Benjamin de Seingalt
- Programming, Wylie Stecklow
- D&I Coordinator, Morgan Drake
And its committees:
- DEI
- Amicus
- Defense of Government Entities
- Disability Rights
- Education
- Employment and Housing Rights
Please join us! Email sections@fedbar.org for information on joining or how to get in touch to become involved. And feel free to join our monthly section calls on third Wednesdays of the month, which are open to all members of the section.
Eric Foley
If you are interested in learning more about this section, its programs, or publications please contact sections@fedbar.org