September 4, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Ryan Kiesel, Executive Director; (405 524-8511; acluok@acluok.org

OKLAHOMA CITY— Following a nationwide search, the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma announced today that Brady Henderson will serve as the organization’s new Legal Director.

As Legal Director, Henderson will serve the ACLU of Oklahoma by developing and managing an impact-driven program of legal advocacy centered on cases with significant implications for the civil liberties of Oklahomans.

Prior to coming to the ACLU of Oklahoma, Henderson served as an Assistant District Attorney in Cleveland County, leading the office’s Family Violence Unit for many years. Since leaving State service, Henderson has maintained a successful private law practice, developing specialties in the areas of civil rights and litigation in both state and federal courts.

Henderson sees the transition from prosecutor to civil rights attorney as an easy one to make. “Both my work speaking out for victims of battering and stalking and my work advocating for those whose civil rights and liberties are threatened comes from a commitment to give a voice to people who can otherwise all too easily remain unheard,” Henderson said.

“Brady will play a critical role in our efforts to protect and expand the civil liberties of Oklahomans,” said Ryan Kiesel, Executive Director of the ACLU of Oklahoma. “Brady’s experience as a litigator, combined with his expertise in Constitutional Law will exponentially increase the effectiveness of the ACLU of Oklahoma.”

The ACLU of Oklahoma is one of 53 affiliates of the American Civil Liberties Union, a national not-for-profit, non-partisan, voluntary organization founded in 1920. Its purpose is to protect those rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom to petition the government for a redress of grievances, freedom of association, the right to privacy, the right to due process of law and the right to equal protection under the law.

The Oklahoma affiliate was established in 1964 and opened its first headquarters in 1973.

For more information about the ACLU of Oklahoma, please visit www.acluok.org or by visiting www.facebook.com/acluok.