After 12 years as Legal Director of the ACLU of South Carolina and more than 40 years as a civil rights lawyer in South Carolina, Susan Dunn has announced that she will retire effective May 31, 2021.
“It has been an honor to do this work with a great organization and such dedicated people.” Dunn said. “But as Kenny Rogers says 'You gotta know when to fold ‘em.' It is time to make space for new leadership."
Prior to joining the ACLU of South Carolina as Legal Director in January 2009, Susan worked in private practice in Charleston for more than 30 years. For 12 years, beginning in the mid-1990’s, Dunn litigated a high-profile and groundbreaking constitutional case challenging a policy mandating the testing of pregnant and postpartum women at a public hospital for cocaine use, and the delivery of those test results to law enforcement. Her clients ultimately won a favorable ruling in the United States Supreme Court that led to a settlement of the case.
Susan was the 1998 recipient of the Jean Galloway Bissell Award, presented annually by the South Carolina Women Lawyers Association to a person who has contributed to the advancement of women in the practice of law in South Carolina.
“Thanks to Susan, the ACLU of South Carolina has been at the forefront of the most important civil liberties fights of our time, ensuring access to the ballot, protecting LGBTQ equality and reproductive rights, and ending the criminalization of poverty, to name just a few,” said Frank Knaack, Executive Director of the ACLU of South Carolina. “Susan has made South Carolina a more just and equitable place for all. We are so grateful for Susan’s dedication to advancing civil liberties in South Carolina. Thank you, Susan.”
The ACLU of South Carolina has begun a search for a new Director of Legal Advocacy. The position description can be found here.
