Asst. Public Defender Laisha Harris, a Houston Peace & Justice Center Award-winning attorney, enlightened us with her life experience that informed her passion for making the law accessible to all.
Laisha Harris is an HPJC Peacemaker Award-winning attorney.
Podcasts (Video — Audio)
Summary
Laisha Harris, a trailblazing attorney and community advocate, shares her inspiring journey from a nomadic childhood to becoming an award-winning public defender. She recounts her experiences with systemic racism, her passion for teaching, and her commitment to empowering underserved communities through education and systemic reform. Harris’s work, including her Legal Boot Camp and thought-provoking writings, bridges gaps between marginalized communities and the justice system, exemplifying her dedication to equity and change.
Key Takeaways
- Upbringing and Identity: Harris’s diverse childhood, including frequent relocations and exposure to racism, shaped her empathy and advocacy for marginalized groups.
- Teaching Roots: Her teaching career in Houston allowed her to connect with and inspire underserved Black and Latina girls, reflecting her commitment to education and empowerment.
- Legal Advocacy: Harris fights for indigent and mentally ill clients while addressing systemic injustices through her systemic change initiatives as a public defender.
- Legal Boot Camp: Harris created “Legal Boot Camp” to simplify government and legal processes and make them accessible to non-lawyers and children.
- Writings and Activism: Her essay A Tale of Two Americas highlights systemic disparities in how law enforcement is perceived and experienced across racial lines, pushing for transformative dialogue.
Progressive Perspective
Laisha Harris embodies the progressive ethos of equity, empowerment, and systemic change. Through her relentless advocacy, she uplifts marginalized voices and challenges entrenched injustices in the legal system. Her work reminds us that transformative change begins at the intersection of education, empathy, and bold action.
Laisha Harris, an attorney and recent recipient of the Houston Peace and Justice Center’s (HPJC) Local Peacemaker Award, exemplifies the transformative power of combining lived experience, professional expertise, and a passion for justice. As an assistant public defender in Harris County, Texas, Harris has already built a legacy of making the law accessible, advocating for the marginalized, and inspiring systemic change within the legal framework. Her work, including initiatives like Legal Boot Camp and impactful writings such as A Tale of Two Americas, underscores her commitment to justice and equity.
A Journey Rooted in Resilience and Understanding
Harris’s journey began in Omaha, Nebraska, where she grew up with a unique perspective shaped by her racially mixed family and experiences of frequent relocation. Raised by a single mother in a white adoptive family, she was exposed to diverse cultural experiences—camping, theater, and music—that nurtured her creative and empathetic spirit. However, the transient nature of her childhood—attending 11 different schools—left her without a stable community. This instability, though challenging, cultivated in her a profound capacity for understanding people from varied backgrounds.
Her move to Arkansas as a teenager marked a turning point. For the first time, Harris encountered overt racism, including being called a racial slur and witnessing Ku Klux Klan rallies. These experiences fueled her awareness of systemic inequities and spurred her lifelong commitment to fighting for the underdog. By the time she moved to Texas and began teaching eighth-grade girls in northeast Houston, Harris had already begun channeling her experiences into tangible action.
From Classroom to Courtroom: A Mission to Empower
Harris’s four years as a teacher were foundational for her activism. Teaching predominantly Black and Latina girls in underserved communities, she connected deeply with her students, many of whom reflected her identity and struggles. Recognizing how societal systems often fail these students, Harris worked to instill pride and self-confidence, fostering a sense of possibility despite systemic barriers.
Her transition to law school at Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law was inspired by a desire to deepen her impact. While there, she honed her ability to combine legal knowledge with accessible communication—a skill she has since used to advocate for her clients and educate communities. Her legal work focuses not only on defense but also on systemic reform. At the Harris County Public Defender’s Office, Harris chairs the Systemic Change Committee, addressing unconstitutional practices and advocating for better treatment of indigent and mentally ill clients.
Legal Boot Camp: Making the Law Accessible
Harris’s Legal Boot Camp reflects her belief that empowering communities begins with education. The interactive program simplifies complex legal concepts for children and non-lawyers, demystifying the workings of government and the justice system. This initiative aims to combat many marginalized communities’ alienation toward the law, equipping them with tools to navigate and challenge systemic oppression.
Legal Boot Camp bridges the gap between the legal world and everyday citizens by fostering a sense of agency and understanding. It serves as a model for how legal professionals can proactively address inequities by ensuring that communities can access knowledge often reserved for the privileged.
Writing for Justice: A Tale of Two Americas
In her essay A Tale of Two Americas, Harris examines the starkly divergent perceptions of law enforcement in Black and white communities. Drawing on historical and contemporary contexts, she contrasts the role of police as protectors in white neighborhoods with their role as oppressors in Black and Brown communities. The essay underscores the systemic roots of these disparities, including the origins of policing in slave patrols and the enduring legacy of Jim Crow.
Harris’s writing style emphasizes irrefutable evidence and effective communication. By presenting facts in a way that challenges readers to confront their biases, she creates a platform for meaningful discourse. Her approach educates and compels action, encouraging readers to examine systemic inequities critically.
Making the case against Qualified Immunity.
Police officers often get off legally with murdering innocent black and brown men via the legal tenant of Qualified Immunity. Harris used the Roe v. Wade case to shoot it down with her paper, “Qualified Immunity: The Court’s Brainchild and a License to Kill.”
Bridging Communities: Harris’s Legacy of Peacemaking
Harris’s ability to connect with diverse audiences through her writing, teaching, and legal advocacy has made her a powerful force for change. Her recent HPJC award recognizes her exceptional efforts to build bridges across divides. Harris highlighted the importance of empathy, understanding, and collective action in addressing systemic injustices in her acceptance speech.
Her story is a testament to the power of resilience and the importance of leveraging one’s experiences for the greater good. From her work with marginalized clients in the courtroom to her efforts to educate communities through initiatives like Legal Boot Camp, Harris exemplifies what it means to be a peacemaker in today’s polarized world.
Conclusion: A Call to Action
Laisha Harris’s life and work remind us of the urgent need for systemic change and community empowerment. Her journey from a resilient child of Omaha to a trailblazing attorney in Texas inspires anyone committed to justice. By making the law accessible, advocating for the marginalized, and challenging systemic inequities, Harris is reshaping the legal landscape and inspiring others to join her in the fight for a more equitable society. Harris’s impact will undoubtedly resonate for years as she continues to grow her initiatives and amplify her voice.
