Kimberly Buddin Email & Phone Number

Washington Dc

Working under the ACLU National Political Advocacy Department's Justice Division, I identify opportunities to advance civil liberties and civil rights in complex policy areas through multiple methods at the federal, state, and local levels and develop strategic legislative and administrative policy options.Independently draft bills and/or administrative rules/regulations at the state, local, or federal levels, providing content expertise as well as legislative and regulatory drafting knowledge.Prepare, provide guidance on and/or deliver testimony on pending legislation before Congressional committees or federal regulatory agencies and other legislative or regulatory bodies at the state and local/municipal levels.Provide legislative counseling, including policy, legislative or legal analysis, strategic planning guidance, and tactical suggestions, to ACLU affiliates to support state and/or locally-based efforts.Coordinate and conduct in-depth civil liberties briefings for government officials as pertinent to advancing priority ACLU positions.

Detroit, Michigan, United States

Detroit, Michigan, United States

Instructing a small group of law school students (2Ls and 3Ls) in law courses focused on substantive knowledge in First Amendment Law, career development through a Public Service Law Colloquium, and practical skills through Interviewing and Counseling.Develop course curriculum, content, deadlines, projects, and examinations in accordance with University and ABA criteria and guidelines, current best practices, and new developments in the law.

Appointed by Governor Whitmer, I represent a Bar Association whose primary mission or purpose is to advocate for minority interests. The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission was created as a result of efforts to improve legal representation for indigent criminal defendants. The Commission develops and oversees the implementation, enforcement, and modification of minimum standards, rules, and procedures to ensure that indigent criminal defense services providing effective assistance of counsel are delivered to all indigent adults in this state

Appointed by Governor Whitmer, I am charged with adopting procedures and making recommendations regarding the privacy policy and management policies and procedures for MIOC.

Analyze civil liberties implications of legislation and implement strategies to defeat or promote legislative policies.Facilitate the passage of legislation and resolutions on key civil liberties and civil rights issues and ensure the ACLU of Michigan’s presence at key political events to support and develop coalitions and further its issue-based agenda.Facilitate legislative advocacy in the state legislature, while coordinating with ACLU National.Primary focus areas: criminal justice and racial justice, immigration, privacy and technology, first amendment, disability rights, indigenous rights.

Greater Detroit Area

Conducted interviews, assisted in litigation strategy, and drafted complex legal documents surrounding a wide range of civil rights issues throughout the state of Michigan including, but not limited to: prisoners’ rights and advocacy for returning citizens, women's rights, immigrant rights, racial justice, constitutionality of the Sex Offender Registry Application (SORA), etc.I worked alongside staff and State policy makers providing research to assist in legislation development in the area of civil rights as well as the legal effects of proposed legislation. Provided legal analyses on topics ranging from financial and informational privacy regulations to amendments to SORA. Drafted correspondence to organizations and municipalities regarding the constitutionality and legality of certain conduct or policies.

As part of the MIRC's VAWA/U Visa Pro Bono Panel, I provide assistance to victims of domestic abuse or serious crimes who qualify for relief pursuant to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act, or under a U-Visa. I gather all necessary information and documentation, conduct interviews, and file required paperwork. I maintain regular communication with clients and assist them in finding appropriate resources and services. I communicate with USCIS to ensure prompt case resolution when necessary.

Dearborn, Michigan

Drafted and filed pleadings, motions, and briefs for the City of Dearborn on alleged wrongful termination, various civil rights violations, workers’ compensation, and excessive force cases. Cases included filings in both state and federal courts. Drafted subpoenas and notices of intents for unemployment cases and criminal prosecutions.Researched and analyzed complex legal questions on municipal law for Corporation Counsel as well as to provide guidance for Mayor John B. "Jack" O'Reilly. Initiate, litigate, and follow up with subrogation cases. Retrieved $32K+ for the City in 5 months. Provided guidance and conducted research to ensure that City policies and ordinances are in compliance and aligned with state and federal laws, the City Charter, and modern legal trends.Developed the City's interdepartmental accident report and fire insurance withholding forms.

Southfield, Michigan

As a staff attorney, I provided legal advice to low-income individuals and seniors throughout the state of Michigan on a variety of civil law issues including landlord/tenant, family law, and consumer matters.

Greater Detroit Area

Provided legal advocacy services to low-income families and children, specifically to shorten the amount of time children spend in the foster care system.Interviewed clients and drafted and filed documents for all aspects of cases including complaints, briefs, motions, subpoenas. Researched relevant legal issues including, but not limited to: divorce, change of custody, and landlord tenant laws.

Responsible for editing articles for the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights newsletter. Assisted in planning of town hall meetings, CLE's, and other civil rights awareness programs. Published Op-Ed in NBLSA's Legal Pad regarding the End Racial Profiling Act of 2013. Wrote scholarly article regarding the civil rights violations of the use solitary confinement of prisoners.

As the Chair of the Lead Articles Committee, I solicited lead articles for publication and maintained correspondence with authors. Performed weekly review of submitted material, and held regular meetings with the Lead Articles Committee. Developed region-wide case note competition topic, materials, guidelines, and sponsorship prizes.

Greater New York City Area

Researched various events indicating human rights violations in the United States. Drafted documents to contribute to Amnesty's annual report and campaign focuses. Specific topics included: terrorism, immigration, racial profiling, prisoners' rights (solitary confinement and the death penalty), children in INS detention, and the Guantanamo hunger strike.Participated in New York's PRIDE Day by canvasing signatures in support of justice for the death of Noxolo Nogwaza and change for LGBT rights in South Africa.

East Lansing, Michigan

Provided referred immigration clients with legal services. Researched, drafted, and filed motions and briefs. Specific cases involved special immigrant juvenile status (SIJS), Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) candidates, U-visa, and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) candidates. Handled all levels of client cases from intiital intake to filing adjustment to lawful permanent residency status.Maintained communication with clients, U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS), Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), and U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE), various adoption agencies and social workers, the EOIR Immigration Court as well as probate courts.

Ann Arbor, Mi

Julington Litigation Center, PLLC is a legal defense firm for felony criminal charges.Researched and drafted memorandums, motions, and briefs on issues such as MRE 404(b), probable cause standards, and circumstantial evidence.Represented clients on the record in 14A-1 District Court and 22nd Circuit Court at arraignments, preliminary examinations, and pretrials. Interviewed clients at Washtenaw County Jail to determine sentencing guidelines and legal strategy for court.Assisted in trial preparation by creating trial binders, reviewing witness testimonies, reviewing discovery, cataloguing evidence, and assisting in the drafting of closing statement for a felony murder trial.

Detroit, Mi

Playworks is a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. Working with 500+ low income, elementary school age children in Southwest Detroit, I established structured and safe activities to encourage the involvement of all students and promote physical, emotional, social and mental health. This was accomplished through strategic and consistent implementation redeveloping recess time, introducing confict resolution strategies, the creation of a strong peer-leadership program. Additional responsiblities included: organizing and managing various after-school and developmental sports league programs as well as collaborating with local organizations on monthly service projects benefiting the community.

Ann Arbor, Mi

Engaged a group of at-risk youth in Washtenaw County to help them develop the necessary professional skills to enter the work force. Youth were introduced to and practiced skills such as interview etiquette and resume writing. Lessons focused on efficiently and thoroughly setting and completing tasks and the interpersonal skills crucial to the professional world. Developed and supervised student internship in early childhood development out of the Hikone Community Center for participating youth to reach out into the community and broaden their experiences working with young children. The specific internship focused on learning early childhood development and designing creative daily programs to address and teach preschool-aged children the fundamental skills to prepare them for kindergarten.

Ann Arbor, Mi

Assisted in felony and misdemeanor cases under the supervision of Assistant Public Defender Lorne Brown and Chief Public Defender Lloyd PowellDeveloped analytical skills and legal knowledge through pertinent criminal law research Conducted client interviews in Washtenaw County JailDetermined and advised clients of sentencing guidelines to aid in legal strategy

J.D., Litigation, Immigration Law, International Human Rights Law, Civil Rights

International Law Review: Associate (2013-2014) Midwest Journal of Law and Policy: Lead Articles Editor, Staff Editor (2012-2014) Bernard.

B.A., Psychology, Political Science

Activities and Societies: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Beta Eta Chapter, College of Literature Science and Arts Student Government.