We're excited to announce Adriana Piñon as the new Legal Director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas. Drawing on her extensive legal advocacy at the ACLU of Texas and New York Civil Liberties Union, Piñon will lead the organization’s legal strategy to defend and advance civil rights and liberties in Texas.

“I am thrilled to welcome Adriana Piñon as our Legal Director,” said Oni Blair, Executive Director of the ACLU of Texas. “We had a very strong pool of candidates for this role, which speaks to its importance. Adriana’s impressive track record, commitment to equity and inclusion, and vision for our legal work make her the right leader for this critical moment in our state.”

Piñon joined the ACLU of Texas in 2012 as a senior staff attorney and later served as policy counsel and senior staff attorney. At the affiliate, she has worked with co-counsel to challenge Texas’ six-week abortion ban, helped litigate a historic case holding that the Sixth Amendment requires counsel at bail hearings, and obtained policy changes and a $1.575 million combined settlement from U.S. government defendants in a case challenging the warrantless cavity search of a United States citizen entering the country. Previously, she worked as a staff attorney at the New York Civil Liberties Union.

“This work is deeply personal,” said Piñon. “What we do in the courtroom shapes our lives at home, in the classroom, and at the doctor’s office. It is a great honor and responsibility to advocate alongside the people of my home state for laws that protect our most cherished rights.” 

Piñon graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University and received her law degree from Columbia University School of Law with special recognition for her work in international law.