Author: Nancy Rodriguez

Assistant or Associate Director of Chapters

Posted on by Nancy Rodriguez

The Position:

The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS) is the nation’s foremost progressive legal organization, with a diverse nationwide network that includes nearly 250 student and lawyer chapters, and progressive lawyers, students, judges, scholars, elected officials, and advocates. Our mission is to support and advocate for laws and legal systems that redress the founding failures of our Constitution, strengthen our democratic legitimacy, uphold the rule of law, and realize the promise of equality for all.

ACS has an immediate opening for an Assistant or Associate Director of Chapters to manage ACS’s growing network and support the overall work of the Department of Network Advancement. ACS chapters are not only the lifeblood of ACS, but a tailor-made infrastructure for sharing ideas, testing theories, and gathering diverse inputs. Together, and with your support, we will move ACS forward to meet this critical inflection point in our nation’s history. We will continue to build a community around a shared identity and values. We will defend democracy and support those who champion the rule of law. And we will transform our system of law and government into a force for good in all our lives.

Responsibilities:

The Assistant or Associate Director of Chapters will assist in:
• Strengthening and ensuring the success of ACS’s most valuable asset: its nationwide progressive network. This includes managing and supporting the existing network of ACS student and lawyer chapters across the country, the strategic expansion of new ACS chapters; supporting and facilitating individual chapter programming; and coordinating national programming for ACS-wide leaders.
• Building a vibrant, diverse, active, and cohesive network for members at all stages of their careers;
• Implementing the division’s budget and strategic priorities;
• Integrating chapter activities and chapter members into ACS’s various substantive initiatives;
• Developing and planning signature events to raise money, raise ACS’s profile, and broaden our impact in key legal markets around the country;
• Facilitating outreach to chapter members and outside organizations;
• Empowering, supporting, and uplifting ACS student and lawyer chapter leaders;
• Working to ensure career-long engagement with the ACS network;
• Coordinating the participation of network members with ACS special projects and career opportunities; and
• Other duties as may be assigned from time to time within the overall department.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will possess many of the following qualifications and personal attributes:
• Campaign, organizing, or event planning experience;
• Strong attention to detail;
• Ability to absorb and act on dynamic information;
• Ability to exercise sound judgment when navigating collaborations with individuals across the legal profession, throughout the country, across subject matters, and across experience levels (from law students to new lawyers, seasoned lawyers, scholars,
judges, and public officials);
• Excellent writing skills;
• Thrives in a collaborative and outcome-driven work culture;
• Performs well in a team environment, but can also consistently accomplish tasks independently;
• Knowledge of current legal and public policy issues;
• Some travel for meetings and events is required;
• JD preferred; and
• Social media and Excel experience are a plus.

Compensation and Benefits:

• The salary for this position is $50,000-70,000 based on education level and experience;
• 4-day work week schedule;
• Generous health, vision, dental, and life insurance;
• Paid holiday, vacation, and sick leave; and
• A robust and collaborative work environment.

Location:

The ideal candidate could be based in Washington, D.C. with a hybrid work environment or
could work remotely from the South or Pennsylvania with the expectation of occasional travel
to Washington D.C., when necessary.

How to Apply:

Interested applicants should email a cover letter, resume, & list of three references to jobs@acslaw.org.

ACS values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. ACS encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, and veteran status.

On the Bench: Week of June 26

Posted on by Nancy Rodriguez

This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a committee vote for President Donald Trump’s first slate of judicial nominees.

The nominees included: Whitney D. Hermandorfer (6th. Cir), Joshua M. Divine (E.D. Mo, W.D. Mo), Zachary M. Bluestone (E.D. Mo), Maria A. Lanahan (E.D. Mo), and Cristian M. Stevens (E.D. Mo).

As of June 26th, there are 60 Article III vacancies, 49 of which are current. There are now 12 pending nominees: 5 waiting for floor votes, 5 waiting to be reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 2 waiting for hearings.

 

On the Bench: Week of December 19

Posted on by Nancy Rodriguez

The Senate this week confirmed Magistrate Judge Benjamin Cheeks to the U.S. District Court for Southern California, and Judge Serena Murillo to the U.S. District Court for Central California, bringing the total number of Article III judges confirmed during the Biden Administration to 235.

For reference, Trump had 85 confirmations through his second year, 187 confirmations through his third year, and 234 through his fourth year.

There are 37 current and future vacancies without nominees.

Read ACS’s statement on the Biden Administration confirming 235 judges.

On the Bench: Week of December 12

Posted on by Nancy Rodriguez

The Senate continued its work on judicial nominations this week, confirming four Article III nominees: Tiffany Johnson (N.D. Ga.), Keli Neary (M.D. Pa.), Cynthia Valenzuela Dixon (C.D. Cal.), and Noël Wise (N.D. Cal.).

On Thursday, Committee held an executive business meeting. At the meeting, the Committee advanced two Article III nominees to the floor: Magistrate Judge Benjamin Cheeks (S.D. Cal.) and Judge Serena Murillo (C.D. Cal.) These nominees are now eligible for cloture and confirmation votes.

With these confirmations, the Biden-Harris Administration is at 233 Article III confirmations. The current administration is only one judicial confirmation short of matching the Trump’s administration’s 234 four-year total.

As of December 12th, there are 47 Article III vacancies, 35 of which are current. There are now 10 pending nominees: 5 waiting for floor votes, 1 waiting to be reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 4 waiting for hearings.

 

On the Bench: Week of December 5

Posted on by Nancy Rodriguez

The Senate continued to make progress on confirmations this week, voting to confirm eight Article III nominees: Anne Hwang (C.D. Cal.), Brian Murphy (D. Mass.), Sparkle Sooknanan (D.D.C.), Catherine Henry (E.D. Pa.), Gail Weilheimer (E.D. Pa.), Anthony Brindisi (N.D.N.Y.), Elizabeth Coombe (N.D.N.Y.) and Sarah Davenport (D.N.M.).

With these confirmations, the Biden-Harris Administration is at 229 Article III confirmations. On this date during the Trump Administration, there were 229 confirmations. The current administration is only 5 short of matching the previous administration’s four-year total.

As of December 5th, there are 50 Article III vacancies, 35 of which are current. There are now 15 pending nominees: 8 waiting for floor votes, 3 waiting to be reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 4 waiting for hearings.

 

On the Bench: Week of November 21

Posted on by Nancy Rodriguez

The Senate made sizable progress this week, confirming six Article III nominees: Embry Kidd (11th Cir), Mustafa Kasubhai (D. Or.), Sarah Russell (D. Conn.), Rebecca Pennell (E.D. Wash.), Amir Ali (D.D.C.) and Sharad Desai (D. Ariz.).

With these confirmations, the Biden-Harris Administration is at 221 Article III confirmations. On this date during the Trump Administration, there were 227 confirmations. The current administration is only 13 short of matching the previous administration’s four-year total.

As of November 21st, there are there are 59 Article III vacancies, 40 of which are current. There are now 23 pending nominees: 16 waiting for floor votes, 3 waiting to be reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 4 waiting for hearings.