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2026 Law Day: Defending the Rights of All People Nationwide

Politics & Public Policy

2026 Law Day: Defending the Rights of All People Nationwide

A Conversation with Deborah N. Archer, President of the National ACLU

Friday, May 1, 2026
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Doors at 11:15am / Lunch at 11:30am / Forum begins 12:00pm

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"The best response to disorganized chaos is organized resistance." – Deborah N. Archer

Few organizations serve as fiercer defenders of constitutional rights and the rule of law than the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). At a time when free speech, free assembly, immigration, and voting rights are being tested across multiple fronts, Americans have come to count on the ACLU for its unyielding dedication to principle — even if they don't agree on every issue.

Deborah N. Archer is President of the national ACLU, where she serves as Chair of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. She brings frontline insight into today's web of legal battles, and calls attention to how traditional tools for protecting civil rights are currently being weakened and tested. Deborah is a tenured professor and associate dean at New York University School of Law, and the faculty director of the Community Equity Lab at NYU Law.

To mark Law Day 2026, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association's Chris Schmitt will sit in conversation with Deborah N. Archer, President of the ACLU, on the urgency of protecting the rule of law and defending the rights of all people nationwide.

This forum is eligible for Continuing Legal Education credit through the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association.

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Online ticket sales for this forum will conclude on Wednesday, April 29th at noon. Still need a ticket? Let us know! Complete the ticket waitlist form here. We will reach out directly if we can accommodate your request, subject to availability.

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The livestream will be available beginning at 12:00pm. Have questions for the Q&A? Text them to 330.541.5794.

Production and distribution of City Club forums in partnership with Ideastream Public Media is generously provided by PNC and the United Black Fund.

The ideas expressed in City Club forums are those of the speakers, and not of the City Club, Ideastream Public Media, or their sponsors.

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