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Elizabeth Hecker

Senior Counsel | She/Her/Hers
Senior Counsel | She/Her/Hers
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Areas of Focus

Overview

Elizabeth Hecker offers clients more than two decades of experience leading litigation in federal courts, with a focus on cases involving education, civil rights, and constitutional law. She has filed more than 50 briefs in federal and state courts of appeals, presented oral arguments in over a dozen appellate matters, and worked closely with the U.S. Office of the Solicitor General in litigation in the U.S. Supreme Court. Elizabeth’s fourteen-year tenure in the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division renders her well-positioned to advise on the requirements of federal civil rights laws. She has extensive experience challenging grant terminations based on the grants’ purported connection with DEI or “gender ideology.” She has advised universities on Title IX compliance, including navigating conflicting federal mandates and state law on the participation of transgender athletes in intercollegiate athletics consistent with their gender identity. And she has presented extensively on how to craft admissions policies to comply with the Supreme Court’s decision in SFFA v. President and Fellows of Harvard College.

In addition to her robust appellate experience, Elizabeth has litigated in dozens of federal district courts nationwide on issues such as housing discrimination, pharmaceutical pricing, and securities fraud. She has negotiated multiple settlement agreements and consent decrees on behalf of both private clients and the government. Her experience extends beyond litigation, having advised numerous government agencies on proposed legislation, draft regulations, guidance documents, and policy statements.

In the education space, Elizabeth has significant experience litigating matters under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and the Constitution. In addition to handling dozens of education-related matters in the federal courts of appeals, Elizabeth was the primary drafter of the government’s Supreme Court amicus briefs in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina. She has also litigated extensively under federal employment discrimination laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, including drafting the government’s amicus brief in the Supreme Court in Torres v. Texas Department of Public Safety. She has briefed and argued civil and criminal matters involving voting rights, fair housing, police and prison reform, excessive force, hate crimes, sex trafficking, and forced labor.

Prior to joining Crowell, Elizabeth was Acting Deputy Chief in the Appellate Section of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. During her tenure at the DOJ, she received the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award and twice received the Assistant Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award, along with multiple Special Commendation Awards, Special Achievement Awards, and Meritorious Awards. She clerked for Hon. Marjorie O. Rendell in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Elizabeth is also an adjunct professor at George Washington University Law School, where she coaches moot court teams in competitions. 

Career & Education

    • Department of Justice: Civil Rights Division

      Appellate Section

      Acting Deputy Chief, February 2025–April 2025
      Special Litigation Counsel, June 2021–February 2025
      Senior Attorney, January 2016–June 2021

      Housing and Civil Enforcement Section

      Trial Attorney, June 2008 – March 2013
    • Department of Justice: Office of Legal Policy
      Senior Counsel, August 2014–January 2016
    • Department of Justice: Civil Rights Division

      Appellate Section

      Acting Deputy Chief, February 2025–April 2025
      Special Litigation Counsel, June 2021–February 2025
      Senior Attorney, January 2016–June 2021

      Housing and Civil Enforcement Section

      Trial Attorney, June 2008 – March 2013
    • Department of Justice: Office of Legal Policy
      Senior Counsel, August 2014–January 2016

  • Adjunct Professor, George Washington University Law School, 2018–Present

    Adjunct Professor, George Washington University Law School, 2018–Present

    • Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., cum laude, 2004
      Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law and Policy: senior editor
    • Emory University, B.A., summa cum laude, political science, 2001
    • Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., cum laude, 2004
      Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law and Policy: senior editor
    • Emory University, B.A., summa cum laude, political science, 2001

    • Supreme Court of the United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
    • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
    • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
    • New York
    • District of Columbia
    • Supreme Court of the United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
    • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
    • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
    • New York
    • District of Columbia

    • Law Clerk, Honorable Marjorie O. Rendell, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, August 2013–August 2014
    • Law Clerk, Honorable Marjorie O. Rendell, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, August 2013–August 2014

Elizabeth's Insights

Webinar | 08.20.25

Challenging Grant Terminations: What Universities Need to Know

Challenging Grant Terminations: What Universities Need to Know
Join us for an in-depth exploration of the recent surge in grant terminations by federal agencies and the implications for universities.

View All Insights

Practices

Industries

Elizabeth's Insights

Webinar | 08.20.25

Challenging Grant Terminations: What Universities Need to Know

Challenging Grant Terminations: What Universities Need to Know
Join us for an in-depth exploration of the recent surge in grant terminations by federal agencies and the implications for universities.

View All Insights