Brennan Center for Justice
at New York University School of Law
15 EXECUTIVE ACTIONS
Edited by Michael Waldman and Inimai Chettiar
© 2014. Tis paper is covered by the Creative Commons “Attribution-No Derivs-NonCommercial” license (see http://creativecommons.org). It may be reproduced in its entirety as long as the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is credited, a link to the Center’s web pages is provided, and no charge is imposed. Te paper may not be reproduced in part or in altered form, or if a fee is charged, without the Center’s permission. Please let the Center know if you reprint.
ABOUT THE BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE
Te Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that seeks to improve our systems of democracy and justice. We work to hold our political institutions and laws accountable to the twin American ideals of democracy and equal justice for all. Te Center’s work ranges from voting rights to campaign finance reform, from racial justice in criminal law to Constitutional protection in the fight against terrorism. A singular institution
—
part think tank, part public interest law firm, part advocacy group, part communications hub
—
the Brennan Center seeks meaningful, measurable change in the systems by which our nation is governed.
ABOUT THE BRENNAN CENTER’S PUBLICATIONS
Red cover
| Research reports offer in-depth empirical findings.
Blue cover
| Policy proposals offer innovative, concrete reform solutions.
White cover
| White papers offer a compelling analysis of a pressing legal or policy issue.
ABOUT THE EDITORS
Michael Waldman
is President of the Brennan Center for Justice.
Inimai Chettiar
is Director of the Justice Program at the Brennan Center for Justice.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Action to Protect the Constitution:
John Kowal
is Vice President for Programs at the Brennan Center for Justice. Action to Strengthen Democracy:
Wendy Weiser
is Director of the Democracy Program at the Brennan Center for Justice.
Lawrence Norden
is Deputy Director of the Democracy Program.
David Earley
is Counsel for the Democracy Program.
Jonathan Brater
is Counsel for the Democracy Program.
Avram Billig
is a Research Associate for the Democracy Program. Action to Secure Justice:
Inimai Chettiar
is Director of the Justice Program at the Brennan Center for Justice.
Nicole Fortier
is Counsel for the Justice Program.
Abigail Finkelman
is the Program Assistant for the Justice Program. Action to Further the Rule of Law:
Elizabeth Goitein
is Co-Director of the Liberty & National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice.
Faiza Patel
is Co-Director of the Liberty & National Security Program.
Mike German
is a Fellow in the Liberty & National Security Program.
Michael Price
is Counsel for the Liberty & National Security Program.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We are grateful to the Democracy Alliance Partners, Open Society Foundations, and all of our contributors for their generous support of the Brennan Center.Te editors and authors thank Abigail Finkelman for her editing and coordination of this report, as well as John Kowal for his editing, and Nicole Austin-Hillery and Myrna Pérez for their input. We thank Jonathan Brater, Amanda Melillo, Carson Whitelemons, Syed Zaidi, Lucy Zhou, Jessica Eaglin, Lauren-Brooke Eisen, Julia Bowling, Tereza Osias, Victoria Volpe, Rachel Levinson-Waldman, Jeremy Carp, and Shannon Parker for their research and drafting contributions. We also thank Jeanine Plant-Chirlin, Desiree Ramos Reiner, Jim Lyons, Erik Opsal, Naren Daniel, Kimberly Lubrano, Lena Glaser, Dan Kaplan, Danyelle Solomon, Sophia Kerby, Kate Brennan, Amanda Evans, and Amy-Lee Goodman for their assistance. Finally, we thank Brennan Center Board Members James Johnson, Christine Varney, and Richard Revesz for their insights.