ACLU’s Top Lobbyist To Step Down

Washington Legislative Office Director To Head American Constitution Society

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: (202) 675-2312 or media@dcaclu.org

WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union today announced that Caroline Fredrickson will be stepping down from her position as the director of its Washington Legislative Office. After four years of serving as the ACLU’s top lobbyist and leading the ACLU’s legislative team in influencing lawmakers and the executive branch, Fredrickson will become the Executive Director of the American Constitution Society (ACS). Fredrickson will begin at ACS this summer. 

“"The ACLU is saddened to see the departure of a fellow civil liberties fighter and dear colleague, but we look forward to working closely with Caroline at the American Constitution Society, an organization with a mission that so closely aligns with the ACLU's defense of the Constitution. We know that her wisdom and experience will ensure her success and make for an even more powerful ACS”,” said Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director of the ACLU.

During her tenure at the ACLU’s Washington Legislative Office, Fredrickson fought on the front lines of the legislative battles surrounding the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), renewal of the Patriot Act and Voting Rights Act, and passage of the Military Commissions Act. Fredrickson testified before Congress repeatedly on subjects including surveillance, Internet freedom, censorship at the American border and information sharing between government agencies.

Fredrickson has been a guest on most of the nation’s news programs, from the Newshour on PBS to frequent appearances on the nightly network news programs, CNN and National Public Radio. She has appeared regularly in the pages of the nation’s largest newspapers.

“It has been an honor to lead the legislative efforts of the ACLU during such a crucial time in our country’s history,” said Fredrickson.  “My time at the ACLU has brought me both the biggest challenges and biggest rewards of my career. My four years working for the nation’s preeminent civil liberties organization has strengthened my belief in the greatness of our country and its Constitution. I look forward to taking all that I learned at the ACLU with me to my position at the American Constitution Society.”

Fredrickson came to the ACLU from NARAL Pro-Choice America where she held the position of general counsel and legal director. In that capacity, she helped to shape the organization’s position and strategy on all issues affecting women’s right to choose, including judicial nominations and state and federal legislation.

Prior to NARAL, Fredrickson worked on Capitol Hill as chief of staff for Senator Maria Cantwell and for former Senator Tom Daschle as counsel on labor and judiciary issues and later as his deputy chief of staff.  Through this work Fredrickson honed her skills in forging bipartisan consensus on issues such as hate crimes, energy and the environment, the minimum wage and farm workers’ rights.  Fredrickson also served as special assistant to President Bill Clinton, acting as a liaison to the Senate on judiciary and labor issues, including judicial nominations, civil rights and immigration. 

Fredrickson graduated summa cum laude from Yale University, and received her law degree from Columbia University, serving on the Law Review and co-founding the Columbia Journal of Gender and Law.