Join the League of Women Voters of Arizona and ACLU Arizona Executive Director Victoria López and Policy Strategist Katelynn Contreras for a dynamic, action-focused discussion on defending democracy. Learn about the ACLU’s strategies and discover concrete steps you can take to support us in this vital work.
Our speakers will focus on these top-level issues:
Rule of Law, Judicial Integrity, and Access to Justice will address issues such as compliance with court orders, the impact of targeting major law firms on plaintiffs' representation, due process in deportation cases, and the protection of constitutional rights like free speech and assembly.
Voter Engagement and Public Participation will emphasize education on lawsuits, federal vs. state jurisdiction, and how public involvement can influence legal outcomes. It will also track key cases and their implications.
Historical Accuracy, Representation, and Government Transparency will cover efforts to prevent the erasure of marginalized communities from history, monitor government website changes, and ensure public access to vital information.
ACLU OF ARIZONA Presenters
Victoria López, Executive Director
Victoria López is a seasoned civil rights attorney and advocate. She previously served as Director of Program and Strategy at the ACLU of Arizona, leading campaigns on voting rights, immigration, and criminal justice. She has held various roles at the ACLU, including Legal Director, and co-counseled landmark cases like Melendres v. Sheridan and litigation against Arizona’s SB 1070. Before that, she was a senior staff attorney at the ACLU National Prison Project and Executive Director at the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project. Originally from Chicago, she holds a B.A. from the University of Illinois Champaign and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Katelynn Contreras, Policy Strategist
Katelynn Contreras is a Policy Strategist at the ACLU of Arizona, focusing on legislative policy and advocacy. Before joining the ACLU, she worked as a Program Coordinator tracking state legislation, a Paralegal at a personal injury law firm, and interned with policy-based nonprofits. She holds a B.S. in Public Service and Public Policy with a law concentration from ASU and a Paralegal Studies certificate from the University of Arizona. She is pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration and Policy from American University.