Diann Rust-Tierney

Diann Rust-Tierney is an associate professor of law at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law and a national legal and legislative policy expert with more than 40 years of experience developing, coordinating, and implementing policy and culture change strategies to advance civil and human rights.

Prior to joining UDC, Rust-Tierney was at Georgetown University Law Center as a distinguished fellow with the Human Rights Institute, the executive director of the Racial Justice Institute, an adjunct professor of law, and the 2021–2022 Robert F. Drinan, S.J., Chair in Human Rights.

Rust-Tierney was the executive director of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty from 2004 to 2022, where she led national and independent state affiliate efforts to end capital punishment in the United States and supported death penalty abolition worldwide. She developed and coordinated national policy and legal strategy. As a nationally recognized expert, she developed strategic communications and policy advocacy to change public opinion about the death penalty and appeared in national media. She has served as an expert resource to members of Congress and legislative staff on capital punishment.

She held various roles at the American Civil Liberties Union from 1985 to 2004, including chief legislative counsel, associate director of the Washington office, and director of the Capital Punishment Project. While at the ACLU, she reviewed, vetted, and critiqued legal analysis on all policy reports and testimony submitted to Congress. She supervised senior legislative counsel; developed and implemented legislative strategy on civil rights and civil liberties; and initiated the creation of a new integrated policy, organizing, communications, and field program to support the Washington office in its legislative advocacy.

Rust-Tierney holds a BA from the College of Wooster and a JD from the University of Maryland School of Law. She has been a member of SAG-AFTRA since 2001 and has appeared in television, films, theater, and commercial projects. 

Diann Rust-Tierney is a 2024-25 Steven M. Polan Fellow in Constitutional Law and History. For more information about the Polan Fellowship, click here.