Edward Hailes, Jr., an experienced civil rights attorney and an ordained Baptist minister, is general counsel and managing director with the Advancement Project, a democracy and justice action group. He formerly served as the general counsel for the United States Commission on Civil Rights, directing the federal agency’s historic investigation into allegations of voting irregularities in Florida during the November 2000 presidential election and the Commission’s high-profile hearing on police practices and civil rights in New York City after the police shooting of Amadou Diallo. Mr. Hailes also served for 10 years as a legal, then legislative, counsel for the NAACP, gaining a remarkable record of success in civil rights litigation and legislative advocacy on behalf of the organization. A graduate of the Howard University School of Law, he also earned his undergraduate degree at Howard University as an Honors Program graduate. Reverend Hailes is the Assistant to the Pastor of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.