Suzette M. Malveaux facts for kids

Suzette M. Malveaux, born on December 4, 1966, is an American law professor and a lawyer who works to protect people's civil rights. She became a professor at the Washington and Lee University School of Law in 2024. Before that, she was a professor at the University of Colorado Law School, where she also directed a center that studies American law.

Professor Malveaux has taught at other law schools, including the Columbus School of Law and the University of Alabama School of Law. She teaches important subjects like civil procedure (how lawsuits work), complex litigation (big, complicated lawsuits), and civil rights. She is known across the country for her knowledge of civil rights law and class action lawsuits. She has even presented cases to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the United States.

Early Life and Education

Suzette Malveaux was born in Lansing, Michigan. Her family has roots in the Creole culture, and she identifies as African-American. Her father, Floyd J. Malveaux, was a dean at Howard University's College of Medicine. He also helped start Howard University's National Human Genome Center. Her mother, Myrna Ruiz Malveaux, taught young children. Suzette has a twin sister, Suzanne Malveaux, who is a well-known reporter for CNN.

Suzette Malveaux went to Harvard University and graduated with high honors in 1988. She then attended NYU Law School, graduating in 1994. While there, she earned special scholarships and was involved with the Law Review, a student-run legal journal. After law school, she worked for a judge, the Honorable Robert L. Carter, in New York.

Career Highlights

Professor Malveaux began her law career working for organizations that help protect civil rights. From 1995 to 1998, she worked at the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. After that, she joined a law firm called Cohen Milstein, where she worked until 2003.

Fighting for Justice in Class Action Lawsuits

As a lawyer, Suzette Malveaux focused on class action lawsuits. These are cases where a group of people who have been harmed in a similar way sue together. She represented people in very important cases, including Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes. This was the largest employment discrimination class action lawsuit in U.S. history at the time it was filed. She also worked on a case for the victims of the Tulsa race riot of 1921, which was a terrible event in American history.

Teaching Law and Inspiring Students

In 2003, Malveaux started teaching law at the University of Alabama School of Law. She then moved to the Columbus School of Law in 2006. In 2018, she joined the University of Colorado Law School. There, she was a Provost Professor of Civil Rights Law and led the Byron R. White Center, which studies American law. Since 2024, she has been teaching at Washington & Lee Law School.

Legal Expert in the Media

Suzette Malveaux often shares her legal knowledge with the public. She appears on news channels like CNN, MSNBC, and Al Jazeera English. She has also been interviewed by major newspapers such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. She helps people understand important legal issues, especially those about the U.S. Supreme Court and civil rights.