LEGAL RIGHTS CENTER - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Counsel
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Senior Director
- Vice President
Anna Hall (she/her) joined the Legal Rights Center in 2021 as an Equal Justice Works Fellow sponsored by Thomson Reuters and an anonymous donor. Her focus is disrupting and dismantling Minnesota's unjust pretrial detention and cash bail systems. This work includes compiling data on pretrial practices in Minnesota, leading community education workshops on pretrial justice issues, and providing direct representation to community members facing criminal charges in Hennepin County. Through her advocacy, Anna aims to support and amplify Minnesota activists and organizers as they agitate for more just systems of accountability.
Anna's work is guided by curiosity, deep commitment to community, and a belief that all people are worthy of a meaningful, joyous life. Music, speculative fiction, and bodies of water support her in imagining and working toward a world where that is possible.
Anna graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School in 2019. She subsequently clerked for Justice Paul C. Thissen on the Minnesota Supreme Court and Judge Paul L. Friedman on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
Anna graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School in 2019. She subsequently clerked for Justice Paul C. Thissen on the Minnesota Supreme Court and Judge Paul L. Friedman on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. She can be reached at ahall@legalrightscenter.org.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Secretary / Director, Check Yo' Self Health and Wellness / High School for the Recording Arts
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Honorary Board
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Research in Action
Job Titles:
- Member of the Honorary Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Partner / Dorsey & Whitney
Garrett was hired by the Legal Rights Center in 2017, following several months as a volunteer here. He has long provided volunteer legal support for political activists and others facing charges arising from institutional, law enforcement, or prosecution bias. Included was his participation in the local committee seeking to free CeCe McDonald, a case defended by the Legal Rights Center,
Job Titles:
- Community Defense Attorney
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Senior Judge
Job Titles:
- Development and Communications Coordinator
James Miller (he/him) joined the Legal Rights Center in 2022 as the Development and Communications Coordinator. Pieces of his background that are relevant to this role include previous experiences with youth work, facilitation, grant-making, donor organizing, and event planning.
James also holds a BA in Biology and Geography from Gustavus Adolphus College with emphases around ecosystem science and food geographies. In his role at the Legal Rights Center, he is excited to draw from these experiences and offer support to LRC's programs, youth-driven campaigns, and community strategy work.
Job Titles:
- Attorney ( Community Defense Program )
- Community Defense Attorney & Collateral Consequences Lead
Josh joined the Legal Rights Center in 2016 after serving as the Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for the Council on Crime and Justice; his work with the Legal Rights Center is supported through a Robins Kaplan fellowship.. He previously worked for the Ramsey County Public Defender's office..
Josh specializes in advocacy and legal assistance that helps individuals overcome the burdens of criminal records, and maintains his subject expertise to support the training and education of others on the topic. .He has served as president of the Minnesota Community Corrections Association and co-chaired the Second Chance Coalition.
Leo has worked as a Community/Advocate Investigator at the Legal Rights Center since 2010. Prior to that he was employed at both Tubman and at the Hennepin County Department of Human Services., assisting Spanish speaking community members.
Lupita (she/her) joined the Legal Rights Center in the summer of 2021. She is an educator, an active community member, and a lover of Mother Earth. Lupita has gained a lot of life experiences as a result of living in a big city and moving to rural Minnesota and visiting her family in a village in Mexico for months at a time. Lupita has been moved to create a path towards liberation for all, from the guidance and support of the Black/Indigenous/Latinx women in her life.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Director - Community Strategy
- Director of Community Strategy
Malaika joined the Legal Rights Center in 2019 as a social work intern. She has facilitated restorative processes and worked with youth and families before coming to the Legal Rights Center, through her experience in community-based nonprofits and residential settings. Her role includes overseeing the Legal Rights Center's community strategy, policy advocacy and organizing at the state and local level, community education, and organizational partnerships. Malaika received dual masters degrees in Public Policy and Social Work from the University of Minnesota.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Deputy Director of Community Legal Services
Nadine joined the Legal Rights Center in 2022, after practicing as a defense attorney with Hennepin County's Adult Representation Services (ARS) Unit, where she represented parents in child protection matters and Hennepin County residents facing evictions. Nadine is also a former Hennepin County Public Defender where she represented hundreds of people charged with criminal cases. She also worked as a law clerk with the HCPD's Office as a law student.
Nadine Graves is a Minnesota native (daughter of Liberian immigrants) and a graduate of an HBCU, Delaware State University, where she earned a BA in Sociology and Criminal Justice, and Mitchell Hamline School of Law.
Outside of the courtroom Nadine is the board chair of a non-profit, We Are Criminals, an organization dedicated to challenging society's perceptions of what it means to be "criminal."
Nadine has a long history of working with and advocating for people in need. A significant amount of her experience is in human services assisting underprivileged and underrepresented people of diverse social, ethnic, and economic backgrounds predominately in Minneapolis.
Nadine's advocacy isn't limited to direct service. She is a voice for racial equity and meaningful justice reform too. She has testified at Minnesota's Second Chance Day on the Hill in support of Ban the Box, expungement reform, and voters' rights restoration. Nadine is also the host and producer of the Waiting Room with Nadine Graves podcast, where she provides a mic to the unheard; exposing the invisible impact upon families affected by the criminal legal system.
Norma joined the Legal Rights Center in 2006. Previously, Norma worked at U.S. Bank and with Radio Rey, a local Hispanic radio station. As Programs Assistant, Norma handles reception duties and is responsible for accurate data collection.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Honorary Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Executive Director / First Nations Repatriation Institute
Job Titles:
- Community Defense Attorney
Sara is an attorney in the Community Defense Program at the Legal Rights Center. Previously, she served as a family law attorney at Central Minnesota Legal Services, staff attorney at the Minnesota Justice Foundation, and a judicial law clerk in criminal court with the Second Judicial District. She earned her B.A. from North Central University - Minneapolis, her M.A. from Luther Seminary, and her J.D. from Mitchell Hamline School of Law.
Sara enjoys being a zealous advocate and is very excited to work alongside community at the Legal Rights Center as an attorney with the Criminal Defense Program.
Sarah became Legal Rights Center's sixth Executive Director in 2020. She is the first woman and member of the LGBTQIA+ community to serve in this role. Sarah is a deeply experienced and innovative leader and advocate, driven by an unrelenting commitment to racial equity and community-led transformational change in our justice system
Sarah first joined the Legal Rights Center in 2012 as our Youth Advocate Attorney and Restorative Facilitator. Prior to becoming Executive Director, she served as Associate Director and was responsible for developing, innovating and growing the LRC's work with youth through the Youth: Education, Advocacy & Restorative Services (Y:EARS) Program. She has also led LRC's community driven policy advocacy focused on transformational, sustainable systems change. Having expertise in both legal and restorative practices brings many invitations to participate within committees and networks, and Sarah truly values the opportunity to deepen LRC's collaborations with community for change.
In 2015, Sarah was named an Up and Coming Attorney by Minnesota Lawyer. Prior to joining the Legal Rights Center, she worked with youth as a public defender in Boston for 5 years. She is a graduate of Brandeis University and Northeastern University School of Law.
Sarah can be reached at sdavis@legalrightscenter.org or 612-677-2124.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- International Law Attorney
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Partner
- President
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Treasurer / Partner / Kutak Rock, LLP
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors