Earl Carl Institute Continues its Legacy of Research and Advocacy

Earl Carl Institute Continues its Legacy of Research and Advocacy

Posted on Wednesday, August 07, 2024

The Earl Carl Institute (ECI) is a research writing and advocacy think tank affiliated with Texas Southern University's Thurgood Marshall School of Law (TMSL). It was created in 1992 by Professor Marshall Johnson and named after one of the law school's founding professors, Earl Carl.

Professor Carl graduated from law school at Yale and became a sought-after law professor, despite losing his sight at 16-years old.

"So his name was selected because of his legacy, and we tell all our students who come here to work at the institute that he is a symbol that you can overcome anything as long as you're willing to do it," said ECI Executive Director Dr. Sarah Guidry.

Created as a research and writing skills enhancement program for law students, the Earl Carl Institute has expanded into providing legal clinics to help the community under the Dr. Sarah Guidry's leadership.

"We provide legal assistance to low-income people. We also provide legal assistance, regardless of income, the special vulnerable populations like juveniles or people who have been wrongfully incarcerated."

in 2022, they provided more than 20,000 hours of legal assistance or information to communities in the Houston area. In 2023, they created a skills enhancement program, providing opportunities for law students to do clinical work.

"They're working with real clients," Guidry said. "They're working with opposing attorneys. They're working with the courts. We also take them down to see specialized court dockets so they can see how you deal with special vulnerable populations."

The ECI received a $1 million grant from the Houston Endowment in 2023 to support the establishment and operations of its immigration clinic. The clinic focuses on the expansion of assistance for people applying for U.S. citizenship and navigating the naturalization process.

"So, we take those stories and then we research and write pieces regarding what the data is and has in fact impacted community of color regarding recommendations for change. And we take that and educate elected officials or other decision makers to create systemic change for our clients. So, the mission of the institute is to empower underserved and disenfranchised communities to create systemic change through legal representation, research, writing and policy advocacy."

The work they've done has been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and PBS Newshour. Through its Innocence Project, the institute represents clients who can prove they're innocent after serving time in prison.

"Many people have been wrongfully incarcerated, not just our clients. But through that work we're able to engage in policy discussions about the reasons for wrongful convictions."

Thanks to grants from the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, the George Foundation, and the Rockwell Fund just to name a few, the Earl Carl Institute also operates a housing stability and property preservation clinic, a juvenile justice clinic, does research in the justice reform space, and much more.

Category: News Media, Faculty & Staff, Alumni, Students

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