Sixth ANNUAL WOMEN IN LAW LEADERSHIP LECTURE
The sixth annual Roger Williams University School of Law Women in Law Leadership Lecture will feature Rochelle Garza, President, Texas Civil Rights Project, and Chair, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and will be held as a fireside chat with Roger Williams University School of Law Professor Emily J. Sack.
4:30 PM Lecture - RWU Law 283 - 2nd Floor
Reception immediately following lecture.
Register Here - Women in Law Leadership Lecture
Rochelle Garza is an attorney from the Rio Grande Valley currently serving as President of the Texas Civil Rights Project, one of the most influential legal organizations dedicated to empowering Texas communities and creating policy changes in the state.
Rochelle has the honor to be appointed to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights by President Biden where she will serve as Chair until 2028. The USCCR is the oldest independent and bipartisan commission in the U.S. created by the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
In 2022, Rochelle became the democratic nominee for Texas Attorney General on a platform focused on voting rights, reproductive rights and government accountability. She was the first Latina to be nominated in Texas history to run for Attorney General by any major party.
Rochelle is the daughter of two public school teachers. At a young age, Rochelle learned firsthand how broken our healthcare system is. Her oldest brother, Robby, suffered a brain injury during childbirth and grew up with disabilities. Rochelle watched her parents work tirelessly to ensure Robby had the care he needed. Like so many families, she knows what it’s like to make sacrifices for the health of her family.
So Rochelle became a lawyer for the people –– fighting for the civil rights of children, immigrants and families and has expertise in immigration, family, criminal and constitutional law. Her work has had broad impacts on civil rights, including the “Garza Notice,” a federal requirement that ensures teens in immigration detention control their reproductive health care choices, which is still in effect today.
Rochelle graduated from the University of Houston Law Center and from Brown University with honors. She lives with her husband, Adam, their toddler daughter, and their dog, Ramses, in Brownsville, Texas.
In addition to the lecture, the program will feature the announcement of the winners of the RWU Law RBG Essay/Art Contest for RI school children.
This event is made possible by the generosity of sponsors Adler Pollock & Sheehan and Hinckley Allen
and individual support from First Women honoree Arlene Violet, Esq., First Women honoree Louise Durfee, Esq., and Diana M. Ducharme, Esq.
MAKE A GIFT TO THE WOMEN IN LAW LEADERSHIP LECTURE AT RWU LAW
This program is approved for one general Rhode Island MCLE credit.
Special Accommodations
Persons who, because of a special need or condition, would like to request an accommodation for an event should contact the Office of the Dean - Programs & Initiatives, as soon as possible, but no later than 72 hours before the event, so that appropriate arrangements can be made. lawevents@rwu.edu