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Lawyers have historically played an essential role in expanding access to elections. While the 2018 elections ushered in a record number of women and people of color into public office at the local, state, and national levels, state legislatures also launched efforts to restrict voting access and rights. The barriers facing voters and candidates of color, and threats to the democratic process were highlighted again in 2020, as lawyers played a key role in both expanding access to voting and in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, despite the falsity of their claims.
“John Lewis speaking at a meeting of American Society of Newspaper Editors, Statler Hilton Hotel, Washington, D.C.” April 16th, 1964, Washington D.C, United States (@libraryofcongress)
How are lawyers working to promote diverse electoral representation and ensure broad voting access? Are lawyers mere partisans or do they have a special role in advancing rule of law values in service of democracy? In this episode, the hosts meet with Amanda Litman (Run for Something) and Sam Spital (NAACP Legal Defense Fund) to delve into public service, the aftermath of the 2020 election, and the roles that lawyers play in the democratic process.
Titled “Negro voting in Cardoza [i.e., Cardozo] High School in [Washington,] D.C.”, November 3rd, 1964, Washington D.C, United States (@libraryofcongress)
Episode Guests
Credits
Through the Gale is a production of the Columbia Law School Anti-Racism Grant Making Program in partnership with the Center for Constitutional Governance.
Production
Written and produced by Adaeze Eze, Andres Estevez, and Dante Violette
Edited and recorded by Devan Kortan and Jake Rosati
Special thanks to Michelle Wilson, Julie Godsoe, Cary Midland, and Kara Van Woerden.
Sound Clips
Ella’s Song, Composed by Bernice Johnson Reagon, Sung by Sweet Honey in the Rock
Instrumentals courtesy of Free Music Archive
Episode Hosts
