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title: "October 2026 Newsletter: Celebrating Pro Bono Month; Back in Federal Court to Protect Religious Freedom; Coming Together for Justice"
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| View in browser October 2026 Dear Friend,   October is Pro Bono Month, an opportunity to recognize the extraordinary lawyers, law firms, and volunteers whose dedication to equal justice makes so much of our work possible.   For almost 60 years, pro bono partnerships have been the backbone of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee. Our model brings together the expertise and resources of the private bar, the commitment of our staff attorneys, and the courage of the individuals and communities we represent. Together, we challenge discrimination, hold powerful institutions accountable, and advance civil rights in D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and across the country   The impact of these partnerships is evident throughout this newsletter. We recognize Gilbert LLP, whose attorneys are working alongside WLC and Democracy Forward to protect religious freedom for more than 7,000 congregations nationwide. We celebrate Mimi Dennis and her colleagues at Crowell & Moring, whose work with WLC helped tenants at Franklin Arms secure a meaningful settlement after years of unsafe living conditions. And we introduce Olive Lee, one of our associate trustees, who represents a new generation of attorneys committed to expanding access to justice.   At a time when fundamental civil rights are being challenged, these partnerships are more important than ever. To our pro bono attorneys, law firms, volunteers, community partners, and supporters: Thank you for the time, talent, and commitment you bring to this work. We could not do it without you.   Together For Justice,   Joanne Lin Executive Director Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs 7,000 Congregations Seek Court Order to Protect Immigrant Communities and Defend Religious Freedom   On October 14, WLC attorney Madeleine Gates was back in federal court, arguing for a permanent injunction to halt immigration arrests and surveillance at 7,000 houses of worship. These congregations include Lutheran, Baptist, Quaker, and other denominations across the country, from Massachusetts to Wisconsin, from Texas to California, to right here in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.   In February, the court had previously issued a preliminary injunction temporarily halting immigration enforcement at 5,500 houses of worship.   The congregations contend that the Department of Homeland Security policy violates the Administrative Procedure Act, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.    We are proud to stand with the 7,000 congregations alongside our co-counsel, Democracy Forward and Gilbert LLP. Read the press releases here and here. Hear From One of Our Plaintiffs   Bishop Paul Erickson Greater Milwaukee Synod of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Mimi Dennis is a counsel at Crowell who represents companies in commercial, civil, and product liability litigation. Her clients include railroads, manufacturers, distributors, importers, and retailers. She has published articles on environmental and civil litigation matters.   Mimi and her Crowell colleagues were honored at the 2026 Wiley Branton awards luncheon for outstanding pro bono achievement. Along with WLC, Crowell represented the Franklin Arms Tenants’ Association in a major housing-conditions lawsuit involving an apartment building in the Brookland neighborhood in northeast Washington, D.C. After suffering years of deplorable housing conditions, the tenants had no choice but to go to court to compel the building owner to clean up vermin infestations, gas/carbon monoxide leaks, and toxic mold. Mimi and the legal team successfully secured a settlement which resulted in favorable damages payouts to the tenants (watch the video interview about the case).   Mimi shares, “At its core, this work is about ensuring that everyone has access to quality legal representation. We are grateful to the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights for their partnership every step of the way.”    In addition to Mimi, the Crowell pro bono team included Dan Wolff, Eli Berns-Zieve, Daniel Shemesh, Brentnie Brown, Alicia Clausen, Morgan Phoenix, Keith Kaider, Sharon Henry, Felicia Isaac, and Kyle Lyons-Bourke.  Olive Lee is an associate in the health care and life sciences practice at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. She advises clients on regulatory, enforcement, and policy matters.   A George Washington University Law School graduate, Olive is an associate trustee of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs (WLC). Olive shares, “I am honored to support WLC, an organization with a longstanding record of impactful civil rights work. Working on a sentence reduction case has underscored the importance of thoughtful legal advocacy in expanding access to justice for individuals seeking relief.”  Brooke Picciano is the new WLC Lew Wiener fellow. She is working with the WLC disability rights team to litigate employment, housing, education, prison, and public accommodations cases on behalf of people with disabilities.   A graduate of George Washington University Law School, Brooke recently completed a year-long fellowship as a litigation fellow with AARP Foundation.   Brooke shares, “I am so thrilled and honored to work with WLC. The namesake of my fellowship, Lew Wiener, was a staunch and successful attorney for individuals with disabilities. I intend to follow in his footsteps by relentlessly defending disability protections, fighting to ensure accessibility and inclusion, and dismantling disability discrimination.” On September 27, our multi-racial, multi-generational WLC family gathered for a celebration of clients, pro bono partners, staff, board, and donors!   Marja K. Plater shared about the recent landmark racial justice victory in our case with Covington & Burling LLP, in which a court ordered the Shenandoah County School Board to remove Confederate general names from two public schools.   Joanne Lin spoke of our national lawsuit, brought with Democracy Forward and Gilbert LLP, on behalf of Lutheran, Baptist, Quaker, and other congregations. Together, we secured a temporary court order halting immigration arrests and surveillance at 5,500 houses of worship. On October 14, we were back in court, arguing for a permanent injunction to protect all 7,000 congregations in our case.   Finally, Skye Perryman, Democracy Forward President, shared and signed copies of her new book, Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times. She aptly reminded us, “Courage has become the new currency. And community creates the conditions for courage.” Coming Down the Pike So Many Ways to Stand With Us!   Your support powers the Washington Lawyers’ Committee’s work across the region — from living rooms to courtrooms.   November 14: Fall reception (Cleveland Park, NW, D.C.)   Please contact Angela Schlagel, angela\_schlagel@washlaw.org, for more information. We’re Hiring! Development Director Reach Out to Us Ryan Downer  ✉  Legal Director Joanne Lin  ✉  Executive Director Tanya Edelin  ✉  COO/CFO Board Co-Chairs Brian Schneider (ArentFox Schiff) Avis Buchanan (retired) The Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs works to create legal, economic, and social equity for low-income marginalized communities in Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, and across the country. We partner with individuals and communities facing discrimination and with the legal community to achieve justice.  We bring strategic litigation to advance fair housing, disability rights, education equity, workers’ rights, immigrant justice, women’s rights, and criminal legal system reform. Donate Washington Lawyers' Committee, 700 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC Unsubscribe Manage preferences |
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