An attorney with extensive experience litigating in federal and state court and community organizing has been selected as the next Legal Director of the ACLU of Kentucky.
Corey Shapiro was selected after a months-long search that drew candidates from across the nation. The ACLU-KY Board of Directors approved his appointment in April. He started work this month.
“We were looking for a leader that could pick up the torch and advance the ACLU of Kentucky’s long and distinguished history of successfully advocating for Kentuckians’ civil rights and civil liberties in state and federal courts,” said Michael Aldridge, ACLU-KY Executive Director. “We found that person in Corey Shapiro. His credentials are impressive, his experience as a litigator and community organizer is unique, and his vision for the Legal Program is energizing.”
“I am deeply honored and truly excited to lead the ACLU of Kentucky’s Legal Program,” said Shapiro. “The current political and legal landscape demands vigilance, enthusiasm, and commitment to all aspects of the ACLU’s mission. I look forward to building relationships across the Commonwealth to expand the ACLU of Kentucky’s reach and impact.”
Corey graduated from Washington University with a degree in English Literature. After Washington University, Corey worked in Washington, D.C. for several years as a political organizer for the civil rights organization People For the American Way. He then graduated, with honors, from George Washington University Law School.
After law school, Corey spent over ten years as a litigator with two large international law firms. While primarily maintaining a commercial litigation practice, Corey worked on a significant number of civil liberties cases pro bono. In 2012, he received a “Lead On!” Award from Access Living for his work successfully representing disabled adults in Illinois in a class action civil rights case working closely with the ACLU of Illinois and other civil liberties groups. In 2015, Corey and his family moved to Louisville, Kentucky where Corey continued his commercial practice at a local law firm as Counsel.
Corey has been very involved in the Louisville community. Prior to joining the ACLU of Kentucky as Legal Director, he served on its Committee on Litigation and Legal Priorities. Corey is also active with the Louisville Jewish Community Relations Council and received the Jewish Community of Louisville Julie Linker Community Relations Young Leadership Award.
Corey is only the second Legal Director in the ACLU of Kentucky’s 63-year history. Longtime Legal Director William E. Sharp left the organization to work in private practice late last year. Prior to Sharp’s tenure, in 2004, Lili Lutgens became ACLU-KY’s first Staff Attorney. Before that, the organization relied on volunteer lawyers, including longtime General Counsel David Friedman, and support from the national ACLU to deliver high-quality representation on cases that had a broad impact upon the rights of Kentuckians.
There will be several opportunities to meet Corey in the weeks ahead. Please keep an eye here on our website and social media pages on Facebook and Twitter for event announcements.
