Debra Gardner

Debra Gardner

Public Justice Center

Planning Committee Member

Debra Gardner joined the Public Justice Center as its Legal Director in January 2000. Since then she has participated in a wide range of impact litigation and other advocacy, including wage theft, employment discrimination, timely and fair access to government benefits, including food stamps, Medicaid, cash assistance, and unemployment compensation, and police retaliation for exercise of free speech.  Among her other responsibilities at the PJC, she co-founded the Race Equity Project and participates in the Race Equity Team. She is a graduate of the first Racial Justice Institute of the Shriver Center on Poverty Law and Baltimore Racial Justice Action’s Workshop for White People and Training of Trainers. In 2022, she became a founding board member of Baltimore Action Legal Team (BALT), which supports the Movement for Black Lives in Baltimore. She works through national and Maryland networks to advance a race equity focus and analysis in the delivery of legal services and the practice of public interest law.  Before joining the PJC, Debra worked in poverty law at Maryland Legal Aid for over fifteen years.  Debra graduated from the Northeastern University School of Law and received her undergrad degree in economics and French literature from Mount Holyoke College.