Sun Herald Covers Launch of the George Riley Impact Litigation

February 24, 2017

According to a February 21, 2017, article in the Sun Herald, the Mississippi Center for Justice, Apple, and the Emerson Collective have launched the George Riley Impact Litigation Fellowship, which pledges US$2 million over 10 years to fund lawsuits aimed at protecting the poor and minorities.

Civil rights lawyer Rob McDuff will use the funds to try cases that “promote discrimination and threaten poor people.”

The Fellowship is named after O’Melveny partner George Riley, who worked extensively with the Mississippi Center for Justice to provide legal assistance to those in need following Hurricane Katrina. He served on the MCJ Board from 2009 until his untimely death in 2016 at the age of 59.

“With this initiative, we intend to take on new cases to advance racial and economic justice, both in Mississippi and beyond,” said Reilly Morse, MCJ President, in its press release. “We are pleased to do so in honor of a friend, George Riley, whose pro bono work for MCJ was part of his inspiring public service spirit.”

An exemplary O’Melveny citizen, Riley found time to give back no matter how full his plate. The Mississippi Center for Justice recognized him for “extraordinary pro bono work and the inspiring public service spirit” he brought to bear on behalf of Hurricane Katrina victims. During the 2010 awards ceremony recognizing Riley for his years of dedication to this cause, he shined the spotlight on the entire O’Melveny team and the firm’s commitment to pro bono work, saying, “Our most important service was to provide hope, to demonstrate that our justice system had not turned its back on those in greatest need. Of such service we should all be very proud.”