WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Howard University School of Law will host the American Bar Association (ABA) State and Local Government Law Section on Tuesday, March 19 at 12:30 p.m. for a public forum addressing contemporary challenges to American democracy.

The event will bring together leading voices in government, policy, voting rights and culture for a panel discussion in the Damon J. Keith Moot Courtroom at the law school campus, located at 2900 Van Ness Street, NW.

“With the numerous threats and outright attacks on our democratic process, it is more important than ever that we engage in meaningful dialogue and take action toward solutions to protect our democracy,” said Lisa Crooms, interim dean of the Howard University School of Law. “We are pleased to partner with the American Bar Association for this meaningful conversation and look forward to this exchange between legal and policy experts and the Howard University community.” 

The forum is part of the ABA's Defending Democracy Initiative, which supports state and local election administrators who work on the frontlines of democracy to defend and ensure the integrity of our democratic process. The initiative, launched in 2022, aims to address attacks on our fundamental right to vote and the integrity of our electoral process.

The panel discussion will be moderated by the section’s inaugural Democracy Fellow to the Defending Democracy Initiative, Stephen Cobb, a member of the Washington, D.C.-based Cozen O-Connor firm.

The panel will feature Washington D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb; Kareem Crayton, Ph.D., Brennan Center Senior Director for Voting and Representation; Sarah Hunt, president of the Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy; and Tanya House, executive vice president of campaigns and advocacy for the Hip Hop Caucus. Each of the panelists bring a unique perspective and expertise to the conversation.

Hosting this event in conjunction with Howard University’s School of Law was “an obvious choice,” Cobb said.

“Lawyers are essential stewards of democracy and there is no better place for a discussion on protecting our democracy than Howard Law School,” Cobb said. “This historic and meaningful institution has, and continues to, train generations of leaders in law and civic engagement.”

Attorney General Schwalb, a third-generation Washingtonian, has an extensive background in law and has represented clients in high-stakes matters including advocating for people defrauded out of their assets, injured by excessive, unconstitutional police force, and fighting for their lives on death row. Crayton, a political scientist and legal expert from Montgomery, Ala. manages the Brennan Center’s efforts to implement pro-voter reforms, combat voter suppression and intimidation, and address redistricting abuses. Hunt is a leading conservative policy voice and social entrepreneur. As president of the Rainey Center, she leads public policy research and leadership development programs by and for women, minorities, and mavericks. A veteran public affairs expert, House previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for P-12 Education in the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development (OPEPD) at the U.S. Department of Education during the Obama Administration.

The American Bar Association is the nation’s largest voluntary association of American lawyers. Founded in 1878, the ABA represents the national voice of the legal profession whose mission is to promote justice, professional excellence, and respect for the law. For more than 100 years, the ABA Journal has been a trusted source of information for decision-makers and legal experts on the trends, people and economic forces that shape the practice of law.

For more information about the ABA and the Defending Democracy Initiative, visit americanbar.org.

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