News & Commentary written by Lenora M. Lapidus

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Lenora M. Lapidus

Former Director

Women's Rights Project, ACLU

Bio

Lenora Lapidus was the director of the ÌÒ×ÓÊÓÆµWomen’s Rights Project. She litigated gender discrimination cases in courts throughout the country, engaged in public policy advocacy, and spoke on gender equity issues in the media and to the public. Her work focused on economic justice, educational equity, ending gender-based violence, and women in the criminal justice system.

She and her colleagues won a unanimous ruling from the Supreme Court in AMP v. Myriad Genetics, striking down patents on the human BRCA genes, associated with breast and ovarian cancer. She also won a landmark victory from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Jessica Gonzales v. U.S., resulting in the issuance of historic guidance from DOJ to law enforcement on gender-biased policing. In 2015, she urged the EEOC to investigate the low number of women hired by studios to be directors for film and television, leading to an in-depth investigation.

Lapidus has received several awards and fellowships, including the Trailblazer Award from Women and Hollywood, 21 Leaders for the 21st Century from Women’s eNews, and the Wasserstein Fellowship for outstanding public interest lawyers from Harvard Law School. She graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School and summa cum laude from Cornell University.


Featured work

Mar 28, 2011

A Woman in the White House — When?

A Woman in the White House — When?

Mar 9, 2011

Wow! What a Party for International Women's Day!

Wow! What a Party for International Women's Day!

Mar 8, 2011

Women's Rights: Where We've Been and Where We're Going

Women's Rights: Where We've Been and Where We're Going

Jan 27, 2011

Wal-Mart Supreme Court Case Highlights Difficulty of Challenging Pay Disparities

Wal-Mart Supreme Court Case Highlights Difficulty of Challenging Pay Disparities

Jan 6, 2011

The Constitution Protects Women Despite Justice Scalia's Views

The Constitution Protects Women Despite Justice Scalia's Views

Nov 18, 2010

Watch It: CEDAW Hearing Today at 2 p.m.

Watch It: CEDAW Hearing Today at 2 p.m.

Nov 17, 2010

Ratify CEDAW, Because Women's Rights are Human Rights

Ratify CEDAW, Because Women's Rights are Human Rights

Feb 24, 2010

Sex-Segregated Education on Trial Today

Sex-Segregated Education on Trial Today

Dec 18, 2009

30 Years of Fighting Discrimination against Women - It's Time the U.S. Stepped Up

30 Years of Fighting Discrimination against Women - It's Time the U.S. Stepped Up

Mar 13, 2009

White House Council Places Women and Girls at Front of Administration's Agenda

White House Council Places Women and Girls at Front of Administration's Agenda