Legal Visionaries and Democracy Advocates: 2023 MacArthur Foundation Fellows

The MacArthur Foundation, renowned for its prestigious "genius grants," has celebrated and honored a cohort of 2023 fellows, totaling 20 remarkable individuals from diverse fields. These exceptional recipients span poetry, art, culture preservation, environmental expertise, and anthropology. Among the laureates are legal scholars and dedicated democracy advocates, each poised to receive a substantial $800,000 award to propel their innovative endeavors.
 
A Defender of Democracy: Ian Bassin
 

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Ian Bassin, a 47-year-old distinguished lawyer and fervent democracy advocate, emerges as a prominent figure among the 2023 MacArthur Foundation fellows. Serving as the executive director of Protect Democracy, an organization he co-founded in 2016, Bassin has dedicated himself to preserving free and fair elections, countering the propagation of misinformation, and safeguarding the very essence of democracy. His far-reaching impact has resonated deeply, with a national task force convened by Bassin and his associates proposing crucial reforms to the Electoral Count Act. These reforms, which included imposing restrictions on the vice president's and Congress's ability to challenge Electoral College votes, became law in December 2022.
 
Remembering Lives Lost: Andrea Armstrong
 

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Andrea Armstrong, aged 48 and a professor at the Loyola University at New Orleans College of Law, embarks on a poignant and vital mission. She has meticulously assembled an exhaustive database chronicling the lives of individuals who have tragically perished within the confines of prisons, jails, or youth detention facilities in Louisiana since 2015. More than mere statistical record-keeping, Armstrong's database serves as a repository of descriptive memorials, infusing humanity into the stories of those whose lives were cut short. Her pioneering work extends beyond data collection, as she has thoughtfully crafted a guide for fellow law professors seeking to adopt her empathetic approach in addressing this critical issue.
 
A Visionary Advocate: E. Tendayi Achiume
 
E. Tendayi Achiume, aged 41, has risen as a trailblazing voice in academia, championing the rights of individuals from formerly colonized territories to migrate to colonizer nations. As a professor at the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law, her scholarship and activism have ignited vital conversations on issues related to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance. Achiume's extensive work is underlined by her role as the United Nations special rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, amplifying her impact on a global scale.
 
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation fellowships, disbursed over five years with no strings attached, align with the foundation's mission to encourage individuals of exceptional talent to pursue their creative, intellectual, and professional inclinations. These outstanding individuals, drawn from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, stand as a testament to the power of visionary thought and the enduring pursuit of positive change.