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Legal Director Andy Kayton Returns to Private Practice
Nearly five years to the date of his start as ACLU of Florida Legal Director, Andy Kayton has returned to private legal practice.
Andy was responsible for the overall management of the ACLU of Florida's Legal Program, which saw a major expansion under his leadership. He helped broaden the legal docket and recruited hundreds of volunteer attorneys across Florida to help defend the Bill of Rights.
Some of the major cases resolved during Andy's tenure as Legal Director include Torres v. City of Miami, a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of hundreds of Hispanic day-laborers who were arrested for seeking temporary employment, Gibson v. Lee County School Board, a challenge to Lee County's high school Bible "history" courses, and Pottinger v. City of Miami, a historic settlement on behalf of Miami's homeless population, which had been subjected to years of illegal arrests and property destruction at the hands of police.
"Andy was instrumental to the success of the ACLU of Florida Legal Program, and all of us in the Florida ACLU owe him our gratitude and our best wishes," said Howard Simon, Executive Director. "He has been a skillful and sensitive lawyer and a wonderful colleague."
Shortly before Andy's departure, Alessandra Soler joined the staff of the ACLU of Florida as Legal Assistant. A former reporter for The Miami Herald who also worked for the ACLU of Louisiana in New Orleans, Alessandra has an infectious enthusiasm for the ACLU's mission. She has already begun coordinating ACLU's legal program with confidence and capability.
