Patagonia to Receive Corporate Citizen Leader Award at Branton Luncheon

Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights is pleased to announce that Patagonia will receive the 2026 Corporate Citizen Leader Award at the Wiley A. Branton Awards luncheon on May 27 in Washington, D.C.

At a time when cities across the country have faced violence, Patagonia, the outdoor apparel company, has stood up and called on the U.S. Senate to vote against further funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):

“The shootings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti occurred about 20 minutes from our St. Paul store, a location that’s been part of the community for 21 years. It is part of a broader pattern of aggressive enforcement, including the detention of young children and the removal of individuals far from their communities.

We are witnessing the militarization of our cities, expanded enforcement power, and a pattern of violence that disproportionately affects vulnerable communities. Congress has the power to act, beginning with ending further funding for ICE to demand a new course that protects human beings.”

Patagonia has also rallied other businesses to join in solidarity and demonstrate what corporate leadership should look like.

Join us May 27 as we celebrate Patagonia at the Branton Awards luncheon.

In January 2026, a federal judge approved the formation of a class action of all D.C. students with disabilities ages 3–22 who, since March 2022, have experienced unsafe, unreliable, or inappropriate service from the D.C. Office of State Superintendent Instruction (OSSE). 

Kaitlin Banner, co-counsel for the families, issued the following statement: 

“Permitting the case to proceed as a class action lawsuit is an important way to show a pattern and practice that requires a systemic remedy. D.C. buses often arrive late, never show up, or leave families in the dark, causing missed school, lost therapies, and children being separated from their classmates.

The numbers presented to the court paint a dire picture:

• Roughly 1,000 students with disabilities use OSSE transportation on about 550 daily bus routes (as of January 2024).

• Families reported over 1,000 delays and cancellations and about 3,200 bus disruptions in the first five months of the 2023–2024 school year.

• In October 2024, 303 students were assigned to routes arriving after instruction began at least once per week on average; 161 students were assigned to routes arriving late at least twice per week. 

These failures by OSSE violate the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and the D.C. Human Rights Act.”

For more information about this court order, watch this WUSA news clip here.

Read the court’s decision granting class certification here.

2026 WLC Associates Campaign Raises More Than $558,000

The Associates Campaign is an annual fundraising campaign run by associates at firms across metropolitan Washington, D.C. From February through April, our Associate Trustees and Campaign Coordinators ask their colleagues—including partners, counsel, associates, and non-lawyer professionals—and their firms to support WLC’s civil rights mission.

This year, 39 firms participated in the 2026 Associates Campaign, raising more than $558,000.

We thank the hardworking Associate Trustees and the many generous donors who contributed.

Overall #1 team: WilmerHale

Top Mid-sized firm: Willkie

Top Small firm: Wilkinson Stekloff

Top novice team: Axinn

Outstanding Pro Bono Achievement: Crowell & Moring LLP

For years, residents at The Franklin in Northeast D.C. endured dangerous living conditions, from gas leaks and toxic mold to infestations and broken safety systems.

In 2023, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee and co-counsel Crowell & Moring filed suit against building management.

Tenants sought a court order for critical repairs, security improvements, restitution, and penalties for D.C. law violations. In late 2025, the parties reached a resolution.

The Crowell & Moring pro bono team will be honored at WLC’s Branton awards luncheon on May 27.

WLC Executive Director Joanne Lin Testifies in Favor of “Lifeline” for Low-Income Families 

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has proposed an 86 percent budget cut to the Access to Justice (ATJ) Initiative, which funds legal representation for thousands of low-income D.C. residents.

This is by far the largest reduction in ATJ funding ever proposed, and one that threatens equal justice. ATJ keeps families in housing, kids in schools, and workers employed, reducing pressure on emergency services and improving the safety and security of all D.C. residents.

In recent years, ATJ has been WLC’s single largest source of funding – close to $1 million annually – representing up to 25 percent of our annual revenue.

WLC Executive Director Joanne Lin testified at the May 6 budget hearing before the D.C. Council, making clear how WLC relies on ATJ funding to:

• Protect low-wage workers from exploitative employment practices

• Halt tenant screening practices that discriminate based on race and income

• Expand access to housing and improve public safety for people with disabilities.

Here’s the WLC briefer on ATJ.

Here’s our ask of all D.C. residents: Email, call, or visit your Councilmember today and urge them to make ATJ a top priority for the D.C. budget by fully funding the ATJ Initiative.

Thank you for your support!