10/07/2026
On October 3, HUSL hosted the inaugural session of Saturday School, relaunched by Dean Roger A. Fairfax, Jr. in honor of the late Professor Charles J. Ogletree, Jr.
The audience included HUSL students, alumni, Howard undergraduates, law students and undergraduates from other institutions, and community members for a primer and conversation on voting rights ahead of the midterm elections. This first session, entitled “Voting Rights 101” explored the history of voting rights for African Americans, the work and actions that have helped protect our ability to exercise that right, and the issues that continue to shape voting access and civic participation today.
Shaylyn Cochran, Deputy Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; Marcia Johnson, Chief Counsel of the League of Women Voters; and Kareem Crayton, Vice President at the Brennan Center for Justice, shared their perspectives on the progress that has been made, the challenges that remain, and the importance of continued engagement in protecting the right to vote.
Founded by Professor Ogletree at Harvard Law School nearly 40 years ago, Saturday School has influenced generations of students. Now at Howard Law, Saturday School continues to bring together students, alumni, and others to honor and extend Professor Ogletree’s legacy.
