This is one in a series of profiles marking the 60th anniversary of the ACLU of Kentucky’s founding. Each week through December 2015 we will highlight the story of one member, client, case, board or staff member that has been an integral part of our organization’s rich history.
Junis Baldon
Junis is featured in our Legal Program video "Law and Liberty." Watch here.
As a lawyer, ACLU of Kentucky member, and cooperating attorney for the organization, Junis Baldon has found many ways to work to protect civil liberties since 2010. Baldon got involved with the ACLU-KY after simply asking a co-worker at his law firm if there were any interesting cases the firm was helping the organization work on. That simple question has led to Baldon assisting the ACLU-KY in multiple court cases, starting with defending the First Amendment rights of citizens by successfully challenging a statute that limited individual donations in school board elections.
Over the years, Baldon has gotten involved in a number of ACLU-KY court cases. He helped the ACLU-KY in its case against two Kentucky Counties who violated the Establishment Clause with Ten Commandment displays on government property. The case took nearly 10 years to come to a conclusion. After the ACLU-KY win, Baldon recalls with pride a letter of thanks he received from the national ACLU Legal Director Steven Shapiro for his contributions to the case.
Baldon believes that the ACLU-KY’s history, and quality of work, set it apart from other organizations. “They’re doing real things; if I work on an ACLU project, there will be tangible results. People at ACLU really walk the walk—if they say they’re going to do something, they’ll do it and do it well.” When asked for advice for people who wish to get involved with the ACLU, Baldon hoped people wouldn’t be afraid to ask. “Don’t be afraid to ask. I found out from my own experience when I asked my partner and she set me up. Don’t be afraid to be honest about what your interests are, if you’re going to get involved with the ACLU, make sure it’s something you’re interested in and passionate about because being interested in it and passionate about it will make you do your best work.”
Baldon currently works as an attorney at the law firm of Frost Brown Todd.