Libby Skarin has been named executive director of the ACLU of South Dakota, North Dakota and Wyoming.
In this role, Skarin will oversee chapter operations and lead efforts to ensure the work of the ACLU is well-supported, coordinated and aligned with its strategic plan to further advance civil liberties in the three-state region.
“Now more than ever, the ACLU’s unrelenting commitment to protecting the constitutional rights of all people is vital to the future of our democracy and the well-being of our most vulnerable communities,” Skarin said. “The ACLU has a unique and essential role in pushing the United States to fulfill its promise and potential. It’s a privilege to play a role in this incredibly important work.”
Skarin joined the ACLU in 2014 as the policy director for the ACLU of South Dakota. In this position, she served as the ACLU’s primary lobbyist and oversaw some of the ACLU’s greatest legislative victories for civil rights, including the passage of a bill ending life sentencing for juveniles and stopping the repeal of presumptive probation. In 2020, Skarin was promoted to the chapter’s campaigns director where she was responsible for developing and implementing effective, non-partisan issue campaign strategies and initiatives throughout South Dakota, North Dakota and Wyoming. In 2023, Skarin was named deputy executive director.
“In my 10 years with the ACLU, I’ve seen just how much of a difference this organization has made in the political and legal landscape,” Skarin said. “I’m proud of the gains we’ve made, but make no mistake – some of our toughest battles are yet to come. Regressive politicians in our state are growing their power in the legislature and cities across South Dakota and their efforts are threatening the values that are fundamental to a vibrant democracy. But I’m prepared to leverage and grow our team’s strengths in advocacy, lobbying, and litigation to meaningfully improve the status quo.”
Prior to joining the ACLU, Skarin served as an assistant attorney general for the state of Iowa and worked with the Sioux City Human Rights Commission as well as Iowa Legal Aid to provide assistance to underserved communities.
Originally from Iowa, Skarin is a graduate of the University of Iowa and the University of Iowa College of Law.
About the ACLU of South Dakota
The American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of civil liberties and civil rights. The ACLU of South Dakota is part of a three-state chapter that also includes North Dakota and Wyoming. The team in South Dakota is supported by staff in those states.
The ACLU believes freedoms of press, speech, assembly, and religion, and the rights to due process, equal protection and privacy, are fundamental to a free people. In addition, the ACLU seeks to advance constitutional protections for groups traditionally denied their rights, including people of color, women, and the LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit communities. The ACLU of South Dakota carries out its work through selective litigation, lobbying at the state and local level, and through public education and awareness of what the Bill of Rights means for the people of South Dakota.
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