Deborah Archer facts for kids

Deborah N. Archer is an American lawyer and professor who works to protect people's rights. She teaches law at New York University School of Law. She also started and leads a program there called the Community Equity Initiative. This program helps communities get fair treatment. In 2021, she became the president of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). This was a big moment because she was the first African American person to lead the ACLU in its long history.

Early Life and Education

Deborah Archer's parents came from Jamaica. She grew up in Windsor, Connecticut. She went to Smith College and earned a degree in government in 1993. After that, she studied law at Yale Law School. She earned her law degree in 1996. While at Yale, she won a special award called the Charles G. Albom Prize.

Career in Law

After finishing law school, Deborah Archer worked for a judge named Alvin Thompson. Then, she became a legal fellow at the ACLU from 1997 to 1998. A legal fellow is like an intern who learns by working on real cases.

From 1998 to 2000, she worked at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. This group uses the law to fight for civil rights. After that, she worked at a law firm called Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.

Teaching and Leadership

In 2003, Archer started teaching at New York Law School (NYLS). She was the first person to lead their programs for diversity and inclusion. This means she helped make sure everyone felt welcome and included at the school. She also led the school's Racial Justice Project. This project worked on legal issues related to fairness for all races.

Since 2009, she has been a member of the ACLU's board. The board helps guide the organization. She also serves on the boards of other important groups. These include the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Legal Aid Society. From 2016 to 2017, she helped lead the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board. This group looks into complaints about police misconduct.

In 2018, Archer moved to New York University. She is now a professor at New York University School of Law. She helps lead the Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law. She also directs the Civil Rights Clinic. In this clinic, law students work on real civil rights cases.

Leading the ACLU

On January 30, 2021, Deborah Archer was chosen to be the president of the ACLU. The ACLU is a very old organization. It works to protect the rights and freedoms of all Americans. Being president means she helps decide the direction of the organization. She also leads the board of directors.

She is the eighth president in the ACLU's 101-year history. It was a historic moment because she is the first African American person to hold this important position. She took over from Susan N. Herman.

Honors and Awards

Deborah Archer has received many awards for her work. In 2016, the New York Law Journal named her one of its Top Women in Law.

In 2021, she won the John Hope Franklin Prize. This award was for an article she wrote about how highways can affect communities. She also received other awards for her work in law and teaching.

Personal Life

Deborah Archer is married to Richard Buery. He used to be a deputy mayor for New York City. They live in Brooklyn with their two sons.