Atty. Patrice Sulton new director of NYU Center
JANS – Attorney Patrice Sulton is settling into her new position as Executive Director of New York University Law School’s Center on Race, Inequality, & the Law. She began her latest conquest for justice in September 2025.
“The Center stands on pillars that resonate profoundly with me: documenting the history of racial oppression, elevating the voices of those most impacted, and rigorously applying a racial justice lens to all facets of law and policy,” stated Sulton, founder and former head of DC Justice Lab in the nation’s capital. “My goal is to build on this strong foundation with innovative research and bold advocacy that leads to real change.”
Sulton says her career is focused on using the law (and, when necessary, changing it) to close racial justice gaps that have widened during her lifetime. “I began my career as a criminal defense and civil rights attorney before moving into law teaching and legislative advocacy in Washington, D.C. In 2020, I worked with my law students to launch DC Justice Lab, a nonprofit that serves as a research hub on local practices, an action tank for smarter safety solutions, and a training ground for movement lawyers.
“Through these experiences, I’ve seen how systems that disenfranchise people on the basis of race are deeply interconnected. I am grateful to join the Center, which is uniquely positioned to address health, wealth, social, and political inequalities all at once.”
Although she has a new title, the work remains the same. “We will continue our work challenging laws and practices that perpetuate injustice. We will translate scholarship into meaningful action, creating spaces where impacted experts lead the way, and fight for the future we deserve.”
Prior to founding DC Justice Lab, Sulton served on the Board of Directors for several leading justice-focused nonprofits, including NAACP DC, DC Lawyers for Youth, DC Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the New York Urban League of Young Professionals. She was named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers Magazine, the Greater Washington Area Chapter of the National Bar Association (NBA), the National Law Journal, and Legal Times. Sulton earned a BA in Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her JD from the George Washington University Law School.
Among her most recent awards are Greater Washington Urban League Champion of Justice 2024, 2022-2023 class of the NBA’s Top 40 Under 40, and being named an Echoing Green fellow, joining a distinguished group of leaders, including former First Lady Michelle Obama.
