About

The 14th Amendment Center for Law and Democracy at Howard Law School is a hub for legal scholarship, advocacy, and strategic collaboration and convening focused on advancing democracy and equal rights, led by Sherrilyn Ifill, the Vernon Jordan Jr. Distinguished Professor of Civil Rights and former president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

“It is my hope that the 14th Amendment Center for Law and Democracy will be a place where we can not only imagine but undertake substantive work that fulfills the promise of this most important provision of our Constitution.” —Sherrilyn Ifill

Founded by Sherrilyn Ifill

Sherrilyn Ifill is a civil rights lawyer and founding director of the 14th Amendment Center for Law & Democracy at the Howard University School of Law. From 2013 to 2022, she served as the President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), the nation’s premier civil rights law organization fighting for racial justice and equality. She recently served as a Ford Foundation Fellow and as the Klinsky Visiting Professor for Leadership & Progress at Harvard Law School, and as a fellow at the Museum of Modern Art.

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Our Pillars of Work

01

Law & Policy

Law & Policy

01

Law & Policy

We are uncovering the potential of the 14th amendment, encouraging lawyers, judges, and representatives to understand what it can tell us about civil rights, state and federal powers, and Congress’ abilities to enforce its clauses.

02

Education, Curriculum & Scholarship

Education, Curriculum & Scholarship

02

Education, Curriculum & Scholarship

We are deepening understanding of the 14th Amendment through teaching, research, and critical scholarship. By integrating its history, principles, and evolving interpretations into classrooms and public discourse, we equip new generations of students, educators, and citizens to engage with its role in shaping equality, justice, and democracy.

03

Art, Imagination
& Narrative

Art, Imagination
& Narrative

03

Art, Imagination
& Narrative

We are exploring the power of art, storytelling, and creative expression to illuminate the meaning of the 14th Amendment. Through literature, performance, visual art, and media, we bring its ideals to life, connecting its promises to lived experiences and inspiring broader public engagement with its legacy.

04

Democratic Institutions

Democratic Institutions

04

Democratic Institutions

We are examining how the 14th Amendment interacts with and strengthens democratic institutions. By focusing on voting rights, representation, accountability, and civic participation, we highlight how its principles continue to safeguard and expand democracy in the United States.

Sherrilyn Ifill speaks at the opening reception for the launch of the 14th Amendment Center for Law and Democracy at Howard Law School on March 27, 2025.

A group of Howard Law School students inspect a copy of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution during the launch of the 14th Amendment Center for Law and Democracy at Howard Law School.

News

Howard University Launches the 14th Amendment Center for Law and Democracy

The center’s launch and inaugural symposium, featuring a keynote conversation with Ava DuVernay, featured legal scholars, historians, judges, elected officials, and students, faculty, and staff from the Howard University community.

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