Michelle Schwartz

Director of Justice Programs

Michelle Schwartz served for six years as a senior staff member for U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg from her home state of New Jersey.  She was Senator Lautenberg’s Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director, advising the Senator on all policy and legal issues, implementing legislative strategy, and overseeing the Senator’s Washington, D.C. staff.  She began her time with Senator Lautenberg as Senior Counsel working on judiciary, telecommunications, and labor issues, and throughout her tenure in the office maintained a focus on judicial nominations, gun violence prevention, and media access.  

Michelle previously practiced law as a litigation associate at Williams & Connolly LLP, handling a wide range of matters, including defamation, securities, and environmental cases.  She also was a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson in the Central District of California.  Prior to attending law school, Michelle served as Deputy Press Secretary for U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer.  

Michelle received her A.B., summa cum laude, from Duke University, with a degree in Public Policy Studies and a French minor.  She received her J.D. from Yale Law School, where she served on the Yale Law Journal, was Notes Editor of the Yale Law and Policy Review, and represented prisoners through the Prison Legal Services clinic.