The Brandeis Center Hires Senior Legal Fellow Jody Forchheimer 

Washington, D.C. (June 24, 2024) – The Louis D. Brandeis Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Jody Forchheimer as the organization’s newest Senior Legal Fellow.  

With the unprecedented and unceasing surge in American anti-Semitism – from higher education and K-12 campuses to workplaces and corporate boardrooms – the Brandeis Center remains steadfast in its commitment to combating injustices against the Jewish community.  

Ms. Forchheimer brings over four decades of experience in leading significant litigation and regulatory investigations following her graduation from Harvard Law School. She was an equity partner at Bingham (now Morgan Lewis), head of litigation and regulatory investigations at Fidelity, and of counsel at O’Melveny & Myers. She directed teams to complete victories in the 1st, 3rd, 8th and D.C. circuit courts of appeals, the Massachusetts and New York state appellate courts, and numerous lower courts and arbitration forums. 

“I am honored to join the Brandeis Center during such a pivotal moment,” stated Ms. Forchheimer. “In my role as Senior Legal Fellow, I am eager to leverage my legal acumen and passion for justice to support Jewish students across the nation who face discrimination.” 

2024 is shaping up to the Brandeis Center’s busiest and most extraordinary yet. The organization is pursuing federal lawsuits against Harvard University and the University of California at Berkeley. The U.S. Department of Education is currently investigating Brandeis Center complaints of unaddressed anti-Semitism on numerous college campuses, including  Wellesley,  SUNY New Paltz, the  University of Southern California,  Brooklyn College, and the  University of Illinois.  LDB also recently filed complaints against  American University,  UC Santa Barbara,  Occidental College,  Pomona College,  UMass-Amherst, and  Ohio State University, working with partner institutions, such as the Anti-Defamation League and StandWithUs, on some cases. At the K-12 level, the Brandeis Center filed a federal complaint against  Berkeley Unified School District  and is suing the  New York Department of Education  and the  Santa Ana Unified School District  for unaddressed anti-Semitism, after securing a recent win with respect to its complaint against the Community School of Davidson  in North Carolina. 

In response to the growing demand for our services, we’re expanding our team, our initiatives, and our proactive educational and policy-driven work. The Brandeis Center is continuing to hire legal and other staff throughout 2024. Professionals passionate about these issues are encouraged to watch the opportunities  section of LDB’s website – and subscribe to the organization’s  mailing list. LDB continues to accept  applications  for civil rights legal fellows and law student clerkships, as well as internships. If you meet the qualifications and are passionate about our mission to advance the civil and human rights of the Jewish people and promote justice for all, we want to hear from you.