Judge Patricia M. Wald was and longtime and loyal friend of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights – just one of many facets of a ground-breaking, path-making career as an attorney and judge.  Judge Wald helped shape the content of the War on Poverty – through her work with the National Crime Commission, the DC Crime Commission, and the Kerner Commission – work that paved the way for the creation of the Committee.  She worked for the District’s Neighborhood Legal Services Program, doing battle in the courts on behalf of low income DC residents, and she brought that same sensibility to her work in the Courts.  Staunchly committed to access to justice throughout her career, Judge Wald created the first Task Force in the federal court system to examine issues of race and ethnicity in the work and life of the courts, and the second to examine the role of gender.   It is challenging to capture the impact that one person has had in the world, particularly one as accomplished and committed as Judge Wald.  Our thoughts are with her family and friends.

Watch a clip below of Judge Wald reflecting on the legacy of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee from our Wiley A. Branton Awards Dinner Last Year.