Sherrilyn Ifill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sherrilyn Ifill
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| President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund | |
| In office 2012–2022 |
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| Preceded by | John Payton |
| Succeeded by | Janai Nelson |
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| Born | December 17, 1962 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Relatives | Gwen Ifill (cousin) |
| Education | Vassar College (AB) New York University (JD) |
Sherrilyn Ifill (born December 17, 1962) is an American lawyer and a special professor at Howard University. She is known for her work in civil rights. She used to be the president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. This organization helps protect the rights of people, especially African Americans.
Sherrilyn Ifill was the seventh person to lead the Legal Defense Fund since it was started by Thurgood Marshall in 1940. She is an expert on voting rights and how judges are chosen. In 2021, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most important people in the world.
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Sherrilyn Ifill's Early Life and Education
Sherrilyn Ifill was born on December 17, 1962, in Baltimore, Maryland. Her parents were Lester and Myrtle Ifill. She was the youngest of 10 children. Her mother passed away when Sherrilyn was six years old.
She went to Hillcrest High School. Later, she studied at Vassar College and earned a bachelor's degree. She then went to New York University School of Law and became a lawyer.
Sherrilyn Ifill's cousin was Gwen Ifill, a famous news anchor for PBS NewsHour. Their families came to the U.S. from Barbados. Both Sherrilyn's and Gwen's fathers were brothers and became ministers.
Sherrilyn Ifill's Career in Law and Civil Rights
While she was in law school, Sherrilyn Ifill worked for a judge and at the United Nations. After law school, she had a special job with the American Civil Liberties Union in New York for one year.
She then joined the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. There, she worked on cases about the Voting Rights Act. This law helps make sure everyone can vote fairly. One important case she worked on was Houston Lawyers' Association v. Attorney General of Texas.
In 1993, she started teaching at the University of Maryland Law School. She taught there for 20 years. She also wrote a book called On the Courthouse Lawn: Confronting the Legacy in the 21st Century. This book was recognized for its important message.
In 2013, she became the president and director-counsel of the Legal Defense Fund. She often shares her knowledge in the media about topics like equal opportunity, policing, and the Supreme Court.
In 2022, Sherrilyn Ifill stepped down from her role at the Legal Defense Fund. Janai Nelson took over her position. After that, Ifill joined the Ford Foundation as a Senior Fellow. Her writings have been published in well-known newspapers and magazines.
In 2023, she became a special professor at Howard University School of Law. In 2024, she plans to start a new center called the 14th Amendment Center for Law & Democracy. This center will focus on the 14th Amendment, which is about equal rights for all citizens.
Sherrilyn Ifill's Personal Life
Sherrilyn Ifill is married to Ivo Knobloch. They have three children together.
Sherrilyn Ifill's Awards and Honors
Sherrilyn Ifill has received many awards for her important work:
- In 2016, she won the Great Teacher Award from the Society of American Law Teachers.
- In 2019, she became a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
- In 2020, Glamour magazine called her a "civil rights superhero" and gave her a Woman of the Year award.
- In 2021, Time magazine put her on its annual Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world.
- In 2023, the New York State Bar Association gave her their Gold Medal Award. They said she was a "tireless warrior for civil rights."
- She also received the Brandeis Medal in 2023.
See also
- Joe Biden Supreme Court candidates
