- July 27, 2004

LOUISVILLE – The American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky has hired Lili S. Lutgens as its first-ever staff attorney.

For 49 years, the ACLU of Kentucky has defended Kentuckians by providing volunteer lawyers to those whose civil liberties have been denied by the state or federal governments.

“As threats to our civil liberties accelerate under the guise of national security, the ACLU of Kentucky’s legal program is more vital than ever,” said David A. Friedman, who has served as the ACLU of Kentucky’s volunteer General Counsel for the past 20 years and will continue in that capacity.  “The addition of a staff attorney means we can respond to increased needs as we seek to defend the Bill of Rights.”

Lutgens, a Louisville native, is both a licensed attorney and licensed clinical social worker.  She is a graduate of Transylvania University, Vanderbilt University Law School, and the Kent School of Social Work at the University of Louisville.  She worked previously as an attorney and spent seven years as a clinician working primarily with children and families in foster care.

For the past three years, Lutgens has served as a cooperating attorney for the ACLU of Kentucky and was lead cooperating attorney on a case challenging preferences for “faith-based” organizations in receiving federal grant funds.  She was chosen after a nationwide search with a highly competitive pool of candidates.

Lutgens will begin the new position on July 30.

“We have needed an attorney on staff for many years to best use the contributions of volunteer lawyers from across the state,” said Beth Wilson, Executive Director of the ACLU of Kentucky.  “Lili has the perfect combination of skills to build our legal program.  With her on staff, the ACLU will have a greater impact on a broader range of civil liberties issues.”

The new staff position was made possible, in part, by a two-year grant from the national ACLU.  And the ACLU of Kentucky has begun a new development campaign to ensure that we will have a staff attorney on a continuing basis.