Justice at Stake Hires Two Senior Staff Members

WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 29—Justice at Stake (JAS), a nonpartisan group that works to keep courts fair and impartial, has announced the hiring of two new senior staff members.

Liz Seaton was named Deputy Director for Policy and Advocacy, a new position at JAS, Executive Director Bert Brandenburg said today. In addition to her senior management responsibilities, Seaton will oversee JAS’s federal, state, diversity, and access to justice activities.

Seaton comes from the National Center for Lesbian Rights, where she served as State Policy Director, as well as Managing Attorney and Director of Projects. She is the former Deputy Director of Programs at the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy and the former General Counsel and Legal Director of the Human Rights Campaign.
 
Seaton earlier practiced law at Silber & Perlman in Takoma Park, Maryland, and with the Whitman-Walker Clinic in Washington D.C. She also served as Board Chair and first Executive Director of Equality Maryland. She sits on the board of the Transgender Law and Policy Institute. Seaton is a graduate of American University’s Washington College of Law, and holds a master’s degree in Public Policy and Women’s Studies from The George Washington University.

Praveen Fernandes was named Director of Federal Affairs & Diversity Initiatives. He comes from the American Constitution Society for Law & Policy (ACS), where he has worked since 2006, most recently as Director of Programs for National Security, Technology, Labor, and the Environment.

Before working at ACS, Fernandes counseled clients at Patton Boggs LLP and Ropes & Gray LLP on regulatory, legislative, and public policy matters, with a focus on health care and Food and Drug Administration issues. Fernandes also served as a lobbyist and legislative lawyer for the Human Rights Campaign, where he worked on judicial nominations, relationship recognition, appropriations, HIV/AIDS, and other LGBT equality issues.

He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) School of Law, and has a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of North Carolina School of Public Health.