PRESS RELEASE: DFI Hires Seasoned Litigator Donald A. Daugherty, Jr.

WASHINGTON—The Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies (DFI) announced today that Donald A. Daugherty, Jr., a seasoned litigator with decades of experience in constitutional, administrative, and education reform matters, will join DFI as Senior Counsel, Litigation.  

“We’re excited that Don is joining DFI. He’s been on the side of education freedom since working on the Zelman v. Simmons-Harris litigation, a critical victory for supporters of education freedom and religious liberty,” said DFI President and Co-Founder Bob Eitel.  “Don believes strongly in education freedom and will be a key asset as DFI continues its fight against the teacher unions, woke civil rights activists, and an all too comfortable education establishment.”

Before moving from private practice to fight for the public interest in 2019, Daugherty had been a partner at three of Wisconsin’s largest law firms and recognized as among the “Best Lawyers in America” and Wisconsin’s “Super Lawyers.”  While in private practice, he represented clients in disputes involving commercial/corporate, health care, information technology, intellectual property, trade regulation, and creditor’s rights issues.  Since 2019, he has litigated matters involving education reform, First Amendment rights, administrative law, and campaign finance and election law. 

Daugherty has served on the boards of numerous civic and charitable organizations, including as President of the Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association. In 2021, the Supreme Court of Wisconsin appointed him to the state’s Judicial Commission, where he serves as vice-chair.

Daugherty earned his B.A. from the University of Virginia and his law degree from Northwestern University School of Law. After law school, he clerked for the Honorable Roger J. Miner on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Daugherty is a member of the Wisconsin and the District of Columbia Bars and is admitted to practice in multiple federal courts, including the Second, Seventh, Ninth, Tenth, and Federal Circuits and the U.S. Supreme Court.