LDF has always recognized that ensuring that our nation’s criminal justice laws and policies are administered fairly and without regard to race is central to the struggle for civil rights. Because the criminal justice system remains riddled with racial bias and disproportionality, LDF’s Criminal Justice Practice uses litigation, advocacy, and public education to eliminate the improper role of race in the criminal justice system and stands at the forefront of this effort.

Historically LDF has fought for African-Americans to be able to work, live and thrive without racially imposed barriers. In 1940, in one of LDF’s first cases, LDF won a watershed decision requiring pay equality between black teachers and white teachers. Through Its litigation, advocacy and public education, LDF’s Economic Justice practice continues to fight to increase fairness and attainment for African-Americans in all aspects of economic life.

From its inception LDF has been engaged in the fight to remove barriers to educational access and opportunity. LDF’s education docket has involved a number of seminal Supreme Court decisions, including Brown v. Board of Education. Through its present work in and out of the courts, LDF’s Education Practice is fighting to ensure racial equity in education for African-American students and secure a safe, inclusive, and high quality education for all students.

Since its founding in 1940, LDF has been a pioneer in the struggle to secure and protect the voting rights of African-Americans. LDF has been involved in nearly all of the precedent-setting litigation relating to minority voting rights. LDF’s Political Participation Group uses legal, legislative, public education and advocacy strategies to promote the full, equal and active participation of African-Americans in America’s democracy.

LDF continues to defend the gains and protections won over the course of its history through its advocacy in Washington D.C. The D.C. office serves as the advocacy branch of LDF, monitoring civil rights legislative issues before Congress and federal agencies responsible for civil rights enforcement, as well as strengthening civil rights laws and opposing efforts to undermine them.