Long-Time Criminal Justice Advocate to Be Recognized at Annual Fundraiser
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2019
CONTACT
Lindsay Kee, (615) 320-7142
NASHVILLE - The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee will honor Susan L. Kay, practice of law professor and associate dean at Vanderbilt University Law School, with its Lifetime Achievement Award at its Thursday, November 14 fundraiser, “The Constitution Uncorked.”
“For four decades, Sue has been a tenacious champion for criminal justice reform,” said ACLU-TN Executive Director Hedy Weinberg. “Long before the wider public saw the need for criminal justice reform, Sue was on the front lines fighting for better jail conditions and advocating in the courts for the most vulnerable among us – and winning. Sue is a true standard-bearer for fairness and justice, and we are so excited to honor her with a Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Kay’s lifetime dedication to criminal justice reform and legal advocacy includes successfully challenging Nashville jail conditions, serving as court-appointed monitor to ensure the state meets its obligations to children with TennCare, and acting as co-reporter on a Tennessee Bar Association study on the effectiveness of counsel in capital cases. She currently serves on the board of directors of the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands and the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, and is on the Tennessee Bar Association Ethics and Professionalism Committee. Kay also contributed dynamic leadership as a long-time member of the ACLU-TN board of directors and as board president for the last ten years.
ACLU-TN’s celebration will also feature two local artists – critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter Luisa Lopez and award-winning poet Tiana Clark. In addition, the cocktail party will feature its unique silent auction of autographed and special edition books.
“In this time of unprecedented attacks on our freedom, ACLU remains on the front lines protecting and advancing civil rights and civil liberties – both in Tennessee and across the country,” explained Weinberg. “ACLU-TN’s work takes place in the community, in the courtroom and at the Tennessee General Assembly and covers a range of civil liberties issues. For example, we have launched a virtual statewide clinic to help people restore their voting rights and an online ‘Know Your Rights’ resource center for immigrants. We also recently secured a preliminary injunction to stop Tennessee’s new law restricting voter registration drives from going into effect while our lawsuit is pending and have a lawsuit pending against the Tennessee Department of Corrections for denying adequate medical care to inmates diagnosed with HCV.”
The Constitution Uncorked will take place on Thursday, November 14 from 6-8 p.m. at the Noah Liff Opera Center in Nashville. Tickets for the event are $150 per person and are available here, along with sponsorship opportunities. Tickets and sponsorships also may be purchased by calling the ACLU-TN office at 615-320-7142.