ACLU of Washington CLE: Incorporating Race Equity into Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Litigation, Part 3

Over the summer, the ACLU-WA hosted a three-part CLE series about incorporating race equities into legal work. The first of the three series featured Twyla Carter discussing how attorneys can weave race and culture into their litigation work to help tell the client's personal story. Part 2 explored how a race equity perspectives can be applied in appellate and amicus briefs. In the third and final chapter, we discuss how race equity is an integral part of civil litigation and provide strategic considerations for participants.

Panel: 

• Michele E. Storms (Moderator), Executive Director of ACLU of Washington. Michele E. Storms is the Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington (ACLU of Washington), former Deputy Director of the ACLU of Washington, and previous Assistant Dean for Public Service and executive director of the William H. Gates Public Service Law program at the University of Washington School of Law.  Preceding those roles she served as a statewide advocacy coordinator first at Columbia Legal Services and later at the Northwest Justice Project where over a combined five-year period she coordinated civil legal aid advocacy in the areas of family law, youth and education, housing, elder law, Native American and right to counsel issues. She was also previously on faculty at the University of Washington School of Law where she founded what is now the Child and Youth Advocacy Clinic and taught several other courses. In addition to her service on numerous boards and guilds both locally and nationally, Michele served on the Washington State Access to Justice Board for six years and the board of One America. Michele is concerned with equity and justice for all and has dedicated her professional and personal attention to access to justice, preservation of freedom and democracy for all and ensuring that all humxns safely reside in the “circle of human concern.”
• David A. Perez, Partner, Perkins Coie. David Perez is a Partner at Perkins Coie.  He is trial attorney focused on intellectual property (IP), real estate, class action, constitutional law, and employment. He is the firmwide chair of the Business Litigation practice.
• Bree Black Horse, Associate, Native American Practice Group at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP Seattle. Bree R. Black Horse is an enrolled member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, and an associate at the law firm of Kilpatrick, Townsend & Stockton in the Native American Practice Group.  Bree advises tribal governments and enterprises on all aspects of federal, state and tribal law, including tribal sovereignty, economic development, treaty rights and complex Indian country litigation.  Bree previously worked as a public defender and legal aid attorney for the Yakama Nation, and as an associate at the law firm of Galanda Broadman, PLLC, where she primarily focused on civil rights and personal injury matters.   Bree is a 2013 graduate of Seattle University School of Law, and former law clerk to the Honorable Brian M. Morris in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana.  Bree currently serves as chair of the ACLU-WA Legal Committee.
• Toby J. Marshall, Member of Terrell Marshall Law Group PLLC. Toby is a founding member of Terrell Marshall Law Group PLLC, where he represents plaintiffs in class actions, collective actions, and other complex litigation involving wage and hour, consumer protection, and civil rights issues. He has tried and won cases in state and federal courts and has also successfully briefed and argued cases before the Washington State Supreme Court, the Washington Court of Appeals, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Toby graduated from the University of Washington School of Law, where he served on the Moot Court Honor Board and was selected to the Order of Barristers. He has been named several times to the Super Lawyers list in Washington Law & Politics.
• Jennifer K. Chung, Associate, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. Jennifer is a commercial litigator who concentrates her practice on intellectual property disputes and matters involving technology issues.  She is a member of the ACLU-WA Legal Committee and maintains an active pro bono practice working on civil rights and immigration matters.

Are you interested in volunteering as a cooperating attorney with the ACLU of Washington?
We have long worked with volunteer cooperating attorneys to help protect and promote civil liberties throughout the state. The work available at any given time for volunteer cooperating attorneys varies quite a bit, but may include trial-level and appellate litigation, policy advocacy, research and consulting projects, legislation, and ordinance issues, speaking at CLEs or at know-your-rights events, drafting publications, and more. Fill out the form here.