Melvin Wulf, a highly influential constitutional lawyer and former legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), passed away on July 8 at the age of 95. Wulf played a pivotal role in transforming the ACLU from a passive organization to an aggressive litigator, directly filing suits on behalf of individuals whose civil liberties were violated. He argued 10 cases before the United States Supreme Court and notably supported future Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in a groundbreaking sex discrimination case.
During his tenure as legal director from 1962 to 1977, Wulf spearheaded the ACLU’s opposition to the Vietnam War, represented conscientious objectors, and established the Lawyers Constitutional Defense Committee. Under his leadership, the ACLU provided legal representation for both Black and white students who traveled to the South to register Black voters during the Freedom Summer of 1964.
Wulf’s most outstanding achievement, according to Aryeh Neler, the executive director of the ACLU at the time, was supporting Ginsburg in appealing a federal case involving sex discrimination. The case centered around Charles Moritz, a bachelor who had been denied a tax deduction for caretaker expenses for his elderly mother. With Wulf’s backing, Ginsburg successfully argued the case before the U.S. Court of Appeals, leading to a ruling that declared sex discrimination unconstitutional.
Ms. Ginsburg and Brenda Feigen were later hired by Wulf and Neler to lead the ACLU’s newly created Women’s Rights Project, where they fought for equality by challenging all forms of legally approved sex discrimination in court. Ginsburg went on to win five of the six sex-discrimination cases she argued before the Supreme Court during her time with the ACLU.
While Wulf’s public profile remained modest during his time at the ACLU, he gained some recognition in 2018 when the film “On the Basis of Sex” portrayed his relationship with Ginsburg. Just as depicted in the film, Wulf played a crucial role in persuading Ginsburg to take on the Moritz case and supporting her throughout the process.
In 1977, Wulf left the ACLU due to differences with the executive director and chairman at the time, Norman Dorsen. He expressed concerns about the organization’s potential accommodation of forces hostile to individual liberty. After leaving the ACLU, Wulf formed a law firm with fellow attorneys Alan Levine and Ramsey Clark, which focused on civil rights, freedom of speech, and employment law.
Melvin Wulf’s contributions to the ACLU and his commitment to fighting for civil liberties and equality will be remembered as significant milestones in the organization’s history. Throughout his career, he represented several high-profile clients, including former CIA agents Philip Agee and Victor Marchetti, advocating for their First Amendment rights. Wulf’s legacy will continue to impact the legal and civil rights landscape for years to come.
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