Marques Banks, Esq.

Equal Justice Works Fellow, Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs
Founder, Black Movement – Law Project
Washington, DC

Marques Banks joined the Washington Lawyers’ Committee in September 2017 as an Equal Justice Works (EJW) Fellow sponsored by Covington & Burling, LLP. During his fellowship, Mr. Banks will challenge the criminalization of poverty, through direct representation and policy advocacy for individuals subject to overly onerous fines, fees and jail time for minor offenses.

Mr. Banks is a graduate of The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law. During law school, Mr. Banks interned at NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Mr. Banks worked as a research assistant for Professor Justin Hansford, Saint Louis University School of Law. Mr. Banks also participated in Columbus Community Legal Services’ Advocacy for the Elderly Clinic, representing individuals denied social security benefits.

Mr. Banks helped create Black Movement-Law Project, an organization providing legal support to the activists and organizations of the Movement for Black Lives. He provided legal support in Ferguson, Baltimore, and various cities across the nation. During the uprising in Baltimore, he trained hundreds of legal observers. Marques is a member of Law4 Black Lives DC.