Election Law Clinic at Harvard Law School

03/27/2023

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that it will release files that the Election Law Clinic at Harvard Law School had sought through litigation in order to evaluate possible bias in the 2020 Census.

Scholars have contended that the privacy protections adopted by the Census Bureau for the 2020 Census may have systematically skewed the data used for redistricting in a way that underrepresents people of color.

In order to determine whether that skew exists, and if so, how large that bias is, ELC and Selendy Gay Law represent Dr. Justin Phillips, a political scientist at Columbia University

Read more here: https://www.hlselectionlaw.org/census

03/07/2023

Today ELC student attorney, Lucas Rodriguez, testified in support of the Maryland Voting Rights Act (HB1104).

He discussed the benefits of Subtitle 5, which creates a Statewide Election Database and Information Office and a publicly accessible statewide election database.

Subtitle 5 makes data publicly accessible to help civil and voting rights activists, empowers local governments and boards of election, enables civic engagement organizations, and facilitates everyday citizens to engage in the redistricting process.

Read ELC’s written testimony here: https://www.hlselectionlaw.org/statevras

01/25/2023

Check out what one of our amazing students, Regina Fairfax, has to say about her experience at the Election Law Clinic!

By Regina Fairfax ’24 Regina Fairfax ’24 I came to Harvard Law School with a passion for Voting Rights and public service. In my year between college and HLS, I joined the NAACP Legal D…

01/06/2023

We are pleased the Court of Appeals stood by the Judge Howard's well-reasoned ruling and that Jacksonville residents will vote under fairer maps this March. We look forward to proving our full case at trial and securing a full remedy that finally puts and end to Jacksonville's racially gerrymandered Council and School Board districts.

Read the Order of the Court here:https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60a559b59cfc63389f67f892/t/63b86c8f25a829482dcdc167/1673030799334/Order+Denying+Stay.pdf

It is a privilege to represent our inspiring plaintiffs, Northside Coalition of Jacksonville Inc., Florida Rising, NAACP Jacksonville Branch, and the many individuals who continually show up and speak out for their communities. Proud to work with our exceptional co-counsel ACLU of Florida & Southern Poverty Law Center.

https://www.hlselectionlaw.org/jacksonville

The Jacksonville City Council unconstitutionally packed four City Council districts and two School Board districts with Black voters, and stripped Black voters out of adjacent districts, diminishing Black political influence in the City.

12/20/2022

VICTORY: A court rejected Jacksonville City’s interim remedial redistricting plan, agreeing with Plaintiffs it does not cure the unconstitutional racial gerrymander of the original map. Instead, the court adopted the Plaintiffs' P3 map.

It is a privilege to represent our inspiring plaintiffs, Northside Coalition of Jacksonville Inc., Florida Rising, NAACP Jacksonville Branch, the Northeast Chapter of the ACLU of Florida, and 10 individuals who tirelessly show up and speak out for their communities.

Proud to work with our outstanding co-counsel the ACLU of Florida and Southern Poverty Law Center

Read the full opinion here:https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60a559b59cfc63389f67f892/t/63a0f8d3e0e7bc023b456082/1671493845605/order.pdf

View the Plantiffs' P3 map here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?ll=30.34437793592582%2C-81.71511299999999&z=10&mid=1gnaBKsgNmIEtcx8MzEp_eaE4fkzy1kY

The Plaintiffs’ P3 Map, ordered to be used in the 2023 City Council elections by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida on Dec. 19, 2022.

12/20/2022

We defend the civil rights and civil liberties of all people in Florida, by working through the legislature, the courts and in the streets.

07/26/2021

There's a simple solution to the latest census fight.

Trust is important for ensuring participation in all future censuses, and confidentiality of responses is essential to maintaining trust.

07/13/2021

Calling all HLS 2/3Ls: Applications for the inaugural Election Law Clinic (fall or spring) are due no later than Friday, July 16th. It's an exciting time to join and get *real litigation experience* working for democracy! Learn more about applying:

For StudentsApplications for the Election Law Clinic and required course component are due by email to Ruth Greenwood ([email protected]) no later than July 16, 2021. Continue reading to learn more about our program and how to enroll. Testimonials“The Election Law Clinic has been an inval...