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“The Georgia bill should trig- epidemic of proposed state legisla-
ger widespread outrage among tion. You don’t have to be Einstein
all Americans, but lawyers have to see what’s going on here.”
a special duty to act, said LDAD LDAD calls on law leaders In an April 1 letter in the Na-
Chairman Scott Harshbarger, ‘to serve as a bulwark’
former Massachusetts attorney against state legislative tional Law Journal, Paul Weiss
chairman Karp, and litigation
general. “Ensuring equal access attacks on voters’ rights in partner Robert Atkins applauded
to voting is a core—even sacred— America. business and law leaders calling
principle in our democracy.” out voter-suppression efforts,
In an interview Wednesday, adding that their firm has fought
LDAD steering committee mem- Georgia’s “legacy in racial discrim-
ber Lauren Stiller Rikleen, a former president of the ination in voting” for the past 60 years. Karp and
Boston Bar Association, said the group is happy with Atkins noted that state lawmakers in 43 states are
the number of signatories to the letter so far, but that supporting more than 250 bills aimed at restricting
“we would love to see more from big law and from voter access.
bar associations and from law school deans and ad- “I think this wave of state legislative proposals and
ministrators.” enactments is radicalizing people who are not inher-
Rikleen said that supporting voter rights is not ently radical,” Fidell said.
a political issue. “We don’t see another side to this Rikleen said she hopes leaders at law firms and
from where we sit as lawyers,” she said. “The legal schools will take LDAD’s recommended actions to
profession should be all over this issue and defend- heart. “In our call to action we list things that firms
ing the right to vote as a fundamental right in our could be doing around voter suppression ranging
democracy.” from pro bono opportunities to speaking out more
In Connecticut, fellow LDAD steering committee directly,” she said, “which I think is a big thing, as
member and Yale Law School senior research fellow well as thinking more mindfully about where they
Eugene R. Fidell said if there is a political angle, it’s are scheduling firm meetings, bar events and law
coming from those who are attempting to curtail school programs.”
voting rights. “The election machinery should be ¦

conducted in a way that is neutral,” he said. “What Michael Marciano is bureau chief of the Connecti-
we are seeing here is anything but neutral. Sud- cut Law Tribune. He can be reached at mmarciano@
denly after an election that the federal government’s alm.com or call 646-957-3022. On Twitter: @Break-
own top official pronounced fair, we are seeing an ingCTLaw

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