Washington Legislative Office Hires New Deputy Director, Chief Legislative & Policy Counsel and Legislative Counsel

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CONTACT: media@dcaclu.org

WASHINGTON — The American Civil Liberties Union recently welcomed Georgia Noone as Deputy Director, Michael Macleod-Ball as Chief Legislative & Policy Counsel, and Joanne Lin as Legislative Counsel covering civil rights issues.

“The ACLU is excited to have these three dedicated and talented individuals join our Washington Legislative Office,” said Caroline Fredrickson, director of the ACLU WLO. “Each brings tremendous experience in the fight for civil liberties. That experience and insight will expand the ACLU’s resources in the fight for justice and equality for all.”

Georgia Noone comes to the ACLU from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, where she served as the Chief Administrative Officer. She was responsible for directing several departments and oversaw all administrative functions for the NAACP.

“At a time when our nation’s principles are under constant assault, the ACLU is at the forefront of the battle for civil rights and civil liberties,” said Noone. “I am excited to join the Washington Legislative Office and contribute all I can to continue the push for our nation’s timeless values and ideals. The NAACP and the ACLU are the two most time-honored civil rights organizations. I am confident my prior experiences will easily translate over in the continuous battle for individual rights for all.”

Michael Macleod-Ball was most recently the Executive Director of the ACLU of Alaska Foundation, and was serving on the national committee of ACLU affiliate directors.

“The ACLU is without peer in the breadth of civil liberties issues on which it’s engaged on Capitol Hill and in the depth of its commitment to those issues,” added Macleod-Ball. “I am proud to join the tireless group of talented individuals in our Washington Legislative Office as we continue to fight back against the Bush administration’s persistent assaults on our basic constitutional rights. Having recently been at the ACLU of Alaska, I look forward to the transition from the cold of the north to the heat of Washington’s political climate.”

Joanne Lin brings to the ACLU vast advocacy experience from her time with Legal Momentum, an organization committed to advancing the rights of women and girls, where she served as senior staff attorney. Joanne was responsible for directing advocacy on immigration policy at a national level.

“Our nation is at a critical juncture — a time when the civil rights community has suffered setbacks in the courts and a demise in civil rights enforcement, while at the same time our country has become more diverse and more and more people are being cut out of the American dream,” said Lin. “I look forward to working with Congress, the administration and civil rights community in building a more inclusive and diverse United States.”