Few organizations serve as fiercer defenders of constitutional rights and the rule of law than the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). At a time when free speech, free assembly, immigration, and voting rights are being tested across multiple fronts, Americans have come to count on the ACLU for its unyielding dedication to principle — even if they don't agree on every issue.
Deborah N. Archer is President of the national ACLU, where she serves as Chair of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. She brings frontline insight into today's web of legal battles, and calls attention to how traditional tools for protecting civil rights are currently being weakened and tested. Deborah is a tenured professor and associate dean at New York University School of Law, and the faculty director of the Community Equity Lab at NYU Law.
To mark Law Day 2026, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association's Chris Schmitt will sit in conversation with Deborah N. Archer, President of the ACLU, on the urgency of protecting the rule of law and defending the rights of all people nationwide.
Speaker
Deborah N. Archer
President, ACLU
Moderator
Chris Schmitt
CEO, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association