Maya Wiley

Maya Wiley
Name	Maya Wiley
Birth date	1964
Birth place	New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Civil rights attorney, legal analyst, professor, activist, politician
Alma mater	Brown University, Columbia Law School
Employer	New York City Mayor's Office, City University of New York, The New York Civil Liberties Union, ACLU
Known for	Civil rights litigation, policing reform, mayoral campaigns

Maya Wiley

Maya Wiley is an American civil rights attorney, legal analyst, professor, activist, and political figure based in New York City. She served as counsel to the Mayor of New York City and led policy initiatives involving policing reform, racial equity, and civil liberties, while also engaging in electoral politics, media commentary, and academic scholarship. Wiley's work connects litigation in courts such as the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit with policy advocacy in institutions like The New York Times, NBC News, and Columbia University.

Early life and education

Wiley was born and raised in Manhattan, New York City, the daughter of activists connected to movements around Civil Rights Movement, influenced by figures linked to Martin Luther King Jr. and organizations such as the NAACP. She attended Harborfields High School and matriculated at Brown University, earning a Bachelor of Arts, and later received a Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School. During her education she engaged with legal clinics associated with Southern District of New York practice and internships in offices including the New York State Attorney General.

Legal career

Wiley's legal career includes positions at prominent civil rights and public interest organizations such as The New York Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Union. She served as counsel to the Mayor of New York City in the administration of Bill de Blasio, directing the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice and advising on matters before bodies like the New York City Council and courts including the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Wiley's litigation and policy work addressed cases and settlements in venues such as the Second Circuit and administrative rulemaking at agencies like the New York Police Department (NYPD). She collaborated with litigators who appeared before the Supreme Court of the United States on civil liberties issues and worked alongside organizations such as the Legal Aid Society and the Public Defender Service in reform coalitions.

Civil rights and activism

Wiley has been active in movements and coalitions alongside entities like Black Lives Matter, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and local community groups from neighborhoods including Harlem and Brooklyn. Her advocacy intersected with national campaigns around policing, voting rights, and criminal justice reform tied to statutes such as the Civil Rights Act and court decisions from the Supreme Court of the United States that shaped surveillance law and Fourth Amendment doctrine. Wiley worked with civil rights leaders connected to Angela Davis, Cornel West, and policy figures from The Roosevelt Institute, engaging with campaigns run by organizations like Color of Change and policy centers such as the Brennan Center for Justice.

Academic and policy work

In academia Wiley has held faculty and fellowship roles at institutions including the City University of New York, Columbia University, and participated in seminars at Harvard Kennedy School and think tanks such as the Brookings Institution. Her scholarship addressed structural inequities examined by researchers at the Urban Institute and Institute for Policy Studies, and she contributed to working groups alongside scholars affiliated with Princeton University, Yale University, and University of Chicago on topics linked to municipal governance and civil liberties. Wiley's policy reports and testimony were delivered before bodies like the New York State Legislature and municipal committees of the New York City Council.

2017 and 2021 New York City mayoral campaigns

Wiley ran for Mayor of New York City in 2017 and again in the 2021 Democratic primary cycle, participating in debates alongside candidates such as Bill de Blasio, Andrew Yang, Eric Adams, Cynthia Nixon, and Scott Stringer. Her campaigns emphasized platforms on policing reform, education investments involving New York City Department of Education, housing policies touching New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), and equity initiatives aligned with proposals from Bernie Sanders-aligned policy circles. In 2021 Wiley garnered endorsements and worked with local unions and advocacy groups including chapters of the Service Employees International Union and leadership connected to Sierra Club New York.

Media and public commentary

Wiley has been a frequent legal analyst and commentator on networks and publications such as NBC News, MSNBC, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and public radio outlets like NPR. She participated in documentary and interview projects with producers from PBS and contributed op-eds and analysis to outlets including The Atlantic and Vox. Wiley joined panels and moderated discussions at events hosted by institutions such as the Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library, and conferences sponsored by Politico and the Aspen Institute.

Awards and honors

Wiley's recognitions include awards from civil rights organizations and civic institutions such as the NAACP, the New York Civil Liberties Union, and honors from academic entities like Columbia Law School alumni awards. She has been listed in civic and legal rankings by publications including The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, and legal directories akin to Chambers and Partners, receiving commendations for leadership from community groups in Manhattan and national organizations centered on racial justice.

Category:American civil rights attorneys Category:New York City politicians Category:Brown University alumni Category:Columbia Law School alumni