The ACLU of Alaska has hired longtime Alaska litigator Ruth Botstein to lead the organization’s legal department. She joins the team with more than 20 years of complex civil litigation in state and federal courts and will officially take the helm on Oct. 17.
“We are living in incredibly tumultuous times,” said ACLU of Alaska Executive Director Mara Kimmel. “Every day the rights of our community members are being attacked and threatened. We must respond quickly to each crisis as it arises, but we must also respond strategically to ensure we’re protecting as many people as we can, preventing future harm, and creating systemic change. We cannot do that without a robust legal team, and a strong leader to direct it – that’s why we are grateful and eager for Ruth join our team.”
Botstein’s career has been dedicated to Alaskans, of whom she has fought for in front of the United States Supreme Court twice. She’s worked in private practice at Feldman & Orlansky, served as an Assistant Attorney General and Senior Assistant Attorney General for the State of Alaska, and worked as an Assistant Municipal Attorney for the Municipality of Anchorage.
"I’m very excited to have this opportunity to help preserve and protect the civil rights and freedoms of all Alaskans. I believe the ACLU of Alaska has a crucial role to play in protecting our constitutional rights and holding our governments accountable, and it’s an honor and a privilege to join a group so dedicated to this work,” Botstein said.
Botstein attended Oberlin College and Stanford Law School. She moved to Alaska in 1998 to clerk on the Alaska Supreme Court for Hon. Dana Fabe. Although she was expecting her Alaska adventure to last only one year, instead she fell in love with the beauty, expanse, and people of the state and has lived here ever since.