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"The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund is simply the best civil rights law firm in American history." -- President Obama

News Updates

  • Two U.S. Supreme Court Decisions Undermine Equal Employment Opportunity Laws

    6/24/13

    Statement of Sherrilyn Ifill, President & Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. on the Court’s Decisions in University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center v. Nassar and Vance v. Ball State University

  • Anderson Cooper Profiles Racial Bias in Death Penalty Case

    6/21/13
    Source: 
    Anderson Cooper 360

    On June 20, 2013,  Anderson Cooper 360 profiled the case of LDF client, Duane Buck, who was sentenced to death in Texas after his sentencing jury was told that he was more likely to be dangerous because he is Black. 

  • Supreme Court Rules that Arizona's Discriminatory Proof of Citizenship Measure is Blocked by Federal Law

    6/17/13

    Washington, D.C.--Today, the United States Supreme Court blocked Arizona’s attempt to make eligible voters provide "evidence of citizenship" in order to register to vote.  In the case, Arizona v. ITCA, the Supreme Court struck down Arizona's "Proposition 200" as pre-empted by the Federal Form provided by the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).

  • Supreme Court Will Review Key Federal Fair Housing Statute

    6/17/13
    Source: 
    LDF

    Statement by NAACP Legal Defense Fund’s President and Director-Counsel Sherrilyn Ifill

    Today, the Supreme Court agreed to hear Mount Holly v. Mount Holly Gardens Citizens in Action, Inc.  We call on the Court to use this case as an opportunity to continue our nation’s progress to ensure that all families have a fair opportunity to find a good place to call home. 

    In Mount Holly, the Court will review a key provision of the Fair Housing Act, which is our nation’s key tool to eradicate housing discrimination and promote more inclusive neighborhoods.  The Fair Housing Act was enacted in 1968 as a testament to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in the wake of his tragic assassination.  Since then, our nation has made progress toward eliminating racial segregation and discrimination in housing.  Yet, as our recent economic crisis has starkly revealed, predatory lending and other discriminatory practices continue to deny housing opportunities to people of color and isolate minority communities.  This case comes at a particularly critical time as African-American families struggle to overcome the devastating effects of the recession on homeownership and wealth. 

  • Federal Court Conditionally Approves Class Action Settlement on behalf of Black Managers at Clothing Chain Wet Seal

    6/17/13
    Related Case or Issue: 
    Cogdell v. Wet Seal

    Court Approval Means Key Changes of Company’s Practices and Awards to Black Managers

    A federal district court preliminarily approved a $7.5 million settlement of a national class action lawsuit, which alleged that Wet Seal had a policy of denying equal pay and promotion opportunities and firing African-American store management employees.