About Capital Rights Lab
A legal lab for constitutional change, building the case for expanded equality for DC residents.
Our mission
Capital Rights Lab is a nonprofit civil rights organization dedicated to expanding democratic rights for the more than 700,000 Americans living in Washington, DC. We advance new legal theories, litigation models, and policy reforms to identify how to most effectively expand access to representation and equal citizenship.
Our work is rooted in a simple conviction: DC residents deserve the same constitutional protections as every other American. That means the right to representation, the right to self-governance, and freedom from Congressional interference in local affairs. We are building the legal case for expanded rights for DC citizens today, not waiting for Congress to act.
While statehood remains the ultimate goal, we believe that meaningful change doesn't have to wait. There are constitutional arguments to be made, legal challenges to be brought, and public narratives to be shifted right now. Capital Rights Lab exists to do that work.
What we do
Impact Litigation
We develop test cases and legal strategies to bring constitutional challenges before the courts. Our litigation program focuses on creating precedent that expands democratic rights for District residents, targeting the legal doctrines that have historically been used to justify the disenfranchisement of DC citizens.
Public Advocacy
We educate the public, build coalitions, and engage lawmakers to transform the legal landscape for DC citizens. Through strategic communications, grassroots organizing, and direct engagement with policymakers, we drive the constitutional case for representation and equal citizenship into the mainstream.
Legal Scholarship
We produce original constitutional scholarship that reexamines the scope and limits of Congressional authority over the District of Columbia. Our research advances new legal frameworks that distinguish legitimate federal oversight from unconstitutional municipal overreach, providing the intellectual foundation for litigation and policy reform.
Leadership
David founded Capital Rights Lab after more than a decade in law and politics in DC, including as a policy advisor in the Obama White House, campaign counsel on the Biden and Harris presidential campaigns, and as a litigator at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP. He holds a J.D. from Georgetown Law and a B.A. from the University of Michigan.
Our approach
Action-oriented
We don't wait for the perfect political moment. We identify the strongest legal and policy levers available right now and pursue them aggressively. Whether through litigation, scholarship, or public advocacy, every project is designed to produce tangible results for DC residents.
Nonpartisan
The right to equal representation isn't a partisan issue. Capital Rights Lab works across political lines because constitutional rights belong to all Americans, regardless of party affiliation. Our legal arguments are built to withstand scrutiny from any direction.
Transparent
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we are committed to transparency in our operations, funding, and legal strategy. We believe the public has a right to understand how civil rights organizations operate and how donations are put to work.