A Voice for the Underdog: Championing Civil Rights at the EEOC, SCOTUS, and Beyond

What drives someone to dedicate their entire legal career to fighting for the little guy? For Karla Gilbride, it began early—a fierce intolerance for injustice, amplified by her own lived experience as a blind person in a world that often told her, "No, you can't."

A path that started with mock trial competitions in high school led her to public interest advocacy at Public Justice and an unforgettable day when Karla stood before the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court and literally changed minds. A year later, after a presidential appointment and a Senate confirmation, she took on the role of General Counsel at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Now the deputy director of Litigation at Public Citizen, she continues her mission of standing up to power imbalances and helping underdogs speak their truth.

Listen as Karla shares stories about how her lived experience informs her perspective, preparing for a Supreme Court argument, navigating a Senate hearing, and why representing migrant farm workers in a California courtroom ranks among her personally meaningful professional achievements. 

Chapters

• 2:02 The start of a lifelong mission to fight injustice and represent the underdog.
• 4:20 Personal experiences with discrimination as a blind person.
• 10:33 From Ninth Circuit clerk to Disability Rights Advocates to Public Justice.
• 12:36 Appearing before the U.S. Supreme Court.
• 18:53 Preparing for a SCOTUS argument.
• 20:58 Getting a favorable opinion and take-home swag.
• 26:28 Senate confirmation and joining the EEOC as General Counsel.
• 28:10 New chapter at Public Citizen.