AJMLS Staff Member Elected President of the Board of Directors of the National Juvenile Defender Center

On December 12, 2013, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School’s Assistant Director of Pro Bono and Experiential Learning, Bridgett Ortega, was elected President of the Board of Directors for the National Juvenile Defender Center (NJDC) in Washington, D.C. NJDC, recipient of the coveted MacArthur Award for Creative & Effective Institutions, is the only organization in the United States devoted solely to improving access to counsel and the quality of representation for children in the justice system. The Center works with individual front-line juvenile defenders and offices, and a national network of regional defender centers, providing them with the tools, support, and skills needed to improve juvenile defense policy and practice. Ms. Ortega’s experience and dedication to juvenile justice makes her uniquely qualified and ready to serve as NJDC’s new president.  Also, on December 20, 2013 Ortega will also receive the NAACP “Freedom Fighter” award for her work in social and juvenile justice. On behalf of the law school, congratulations for your outstanding accomplishments, hard work and dedication the practice of law and the juvenile justice system.