Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

Founded	1963
Type	Nonpartisan
Focus	Civil rights and voting rights
Location	Washington, D.C.
Area served	United States
Members	220
Key people	Damon Hewitt, President and Executive Director

The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is often called the Lawyers' Committee. It is an American organization that works for civil rights. President John F. Kennedy asked for it to be started in 1963.

When the Lawyers' Committee began, it changed how lawyers and judges could help people. It especially helped racial minorities during the American civil rights movement. The group asked private lawyers to use their skills to solve big civil rights problems. Some early leaders included Bernard G. Segal and Harrison Tweed.

In 1963, 244 lawyers met at the White House. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson spoke about unfair treatment he saw. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy said lawyers had a special role. They had sworn to uphold the Constitution. At the end of the meeting, Bernard Segal and Harrison Tweed agreed to lead the new committee.

Over the years, the organization has helped with many important civil rights changes. This includes big updates to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in 1982. They also helped create rules like Executive Order 11246. This rule stops employers from treating people unfairly because of their race. The Lawyers' Committee often shares its expert knowledge with Congress. It also speaks out about current civil rights issues.

The Lawyers' Committee has eight local offices across the country. These are in Boston, Massachusetts (started 1968), Chicago, Illinois (1969), Denver, Colorado (1978), Jackson, Mississippi (1965), Los Angeles, California (1970), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1969), San Francisco, California (1968), and the District of Columbia (1968). Each local office raises its own money and makes its own rules. Together with the national Lawyers' Committee, they work on issues for both the country and individual states.

History of the Lawyers' Committee
How the Lawyers' Committee Helps
Important Legal Cases
Notable People Associated with the Lawyers' Committee
See also

History of the Lawyers' Committee

On June 21, 1963, President John F. Kennedy held a meeting at the White House. This was during the American civil rights movement. He suggested that a group of lawyers should form. Their goal would be to reduce racial tensions through volunteer actions. On July 10, the Lawyers' Committee was officially announced.

The first leaders were Bernard Segal and Harrison Tweed. They were well-known in civil rights and law. More than a hundred lawyers volunteered to join. Both white and Black attorneys were part of the group. The members also included past presidents of the American Bar Association. On August 9, 1963, the group became a nonprofit organization. It was based in Washington, D.C.. Its first leader, David Stahl, was named in December 1963.

The group's first main goal was to fight legal efforts. These efforts tried to keep segregation in Mississippi. Segregation meant keeping people of different races separate. The Mississippi office opened on June 14, 1965. Its mission was to get lawyers to take on the job of leading the civil rights movement. They wanted to provide legal help where it was not available.

At that time, Alabama Governor George Wallace said he would not follow court orders. These orders wanted to end segregation at the University of Alabama. Also, civil rights activist Medgar Evers was killed in Mississippi on June 11. These events made private lawyers want to act. They called for officials to follow the law. These events also made President Kennedy ask private lawyers to do more. He wanted them to defend the civil rights of Black citizens.

The organization's long-term goal is to make sure everyone has equal justice. They do this by using the rule of law. They also get private lawyers to help lead. The Lawyers' Committee works to stop all civil rights violations. But most of its work focuses on unfairness that mainly affects African Americans and other people of color.

How the Lawyers' Committee Helps

The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law works through different projects. These projects run all the time:

The Criminal Justice Project: This project works on fairness in the justice system.
The Economic Justice Project: This helps people have fair chances in jobs and money.
The Educational Opportunities Project: This works to make sure everyone has fair access to education.
The Election Protection coalition: This group helps protect the right to vote.
The Fair Housing and Community Development Project: This helps ensure fair housing and community growth.
The Special Litigation and Advocacy Project: This handles special legal cases and speaks up for rights.
The James Byrd, Jr. Center to Stop Hate Project: This works to fight against hate crimes.
The Voting Rights Project: This project focuses on protecting voting rights.

Important Legal Cases

The Lawyers' Committee has been involved in many important legal cases. Here are a few examples:

Voting Rights Cases

Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law v. Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity

Georgia Coalition for the Peoples' Agenda, Inc. et al v. Kemp In October 2018, the Lawyers' Committee and its partners filed a lawsuit. They sued Secretary of State Brian Kemp in Georgia. The lawsuit was about Georgia's "exact match" policy. This policy required voter information to match exactly. The lawsuit said this policy broke voting rights laws. It also said it went against the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.

Education Cases

The Coalition for Equity and Excellence in Maryland Higher Education v. Maryland Higher Education Commission Starting in 2000, Maryland did not follow agreements. These agreements were about funding for historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The Lawyers' Committee and partners sued. They said Maryland had not removed the lasting effects of segregation. This was from its old system of higher education.

Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College et al The Lawyers' Committee joined this lawsuit. They filed a special brief to support Harvard's admissions process. This lawsuit tried to end "affirmative action." Affirmative action is a policy that helps make sure different groups of people are included. The Lawyers' Committee's clients were students who supported Harvard's approach. They were allowed to speak in court.

Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina, et al The Lawyers' Committee also joined this lawsuit. This case also challenged affirmative action. The Lawyers' Committee filed a brief to support the University of North Carolina's admissions process.

Census Cases

City of San Jose v. Ross The Lawyers' Committee and partners filed a lawsuit. They wanted to stop Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross from adding a citizenship question to the 2020 Census. Experts believed such a question would make fewer people answer. This could lead to less important funding for communities.

Notable People Associated with the Lawyers' Committee

Many important people have been involved with the Lawyers' Committee. Some of them include:

Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law facts for kids

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