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Regina Fairfax

Reforming California’s “Three Strikes” Policy

At the time it was enacted in 1994, California’s “Three Strikes and You’re Out” law, was widely considered to be the harshest sentencing law in the United States. Thousands of people have been sentenced to life in prison for minor crimes like simple drug possession and petty theft. After nearly two decades of draconian sentences, […]

Reflections of Former President and Director-Counsel Ted Shaw on the Legacy of William T. Coleman, Jr.

“When I think about Bill Coleman, I think about Bob Jones University v. I.R.S. and the Reagan Administration’s abandonment in the Supreme Court of the government’s long-held position denying tax-exempt-status to private schools that practiced racial discrimination. Rather than declare the case moot the Court, in an extraordinary step,  appointed William T. Coleman to argue against racial discrimination. […]

Reflections of Former President and Director-Counsel Ted Shaw on the Legacy of Jack Greenberg

“Jack Greenberg was an American hero. If all he had done was serve in the navy during WWII, he would have earned that status. But his greatest battle was against our country’s greatest evil – racial segregation and discrimination. Jack was part of the team of lawyers that changed America forever. As one of the […]

Reflections of Former President and Director-Counsel Elaine Jones on the Legacy of Jack Greenberg

“By example, Jack taught young lawyers how to conduct ourselves in litigation;  courtesy to opposing counsel, respect for the Court, solid and thorough research and preparation, and expressing oneself orally and in writing with clarity and brevity. He emphasized that all have contributions to make and unique gifts to share- and our job is to […]

Reflecting on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Joice Writes “Ensuring Equal Opportunity in Employment”

  Ensuring Equal Opportunity in Employment: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Ten years after the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education—where the doctrine of “separate but equal” was declared unconstitutional—the vast majority of African Americans and other people of color in this country […]

Reflecting on the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Reflecting on the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The enduring image of Dr. King for most Americans is of the great leader standing before a microphone and speaking soul-shaking, transformational words of truth.  His speeches—whether “Give Us the Ballot” or “I Have a Dream”—powerfully examine the state of American democracy and call this nation to its highest self.  […]

Redressing America’s Racist Cannabis Laws: How Voters and Policymakers Can Enact Change

Redressing America’s Racist Cannabis Laws Voters and Policymakers are Key to Enacting Change Simeon Spencer Former Research and Operations Associate, Thurgood Marshall Institute The groundbreaking Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act was introduced by Senate Democrats ahead of Congress’ August recess.  This bill removes cannabis from the federal list of controlled substances and calls for expunging […]

Redrawing Democracy: Race, Redistricting, and the 2011 Redistricting Cycle

Redistricting represents one of the most important events in our democracy. Encouraging greater levels of community participation in the process and advocating for compliance with the Voting Rights Act can help ensure that this redistricting cycle produces maps that provide minority voters with equal access to the political process. Click here to read Kristen Clarke’s […]