Our Team

Darby Hickey (she/her) is Senior Policy Counsel at DC Justice Lab. In this role, she is in charge of developing advocacy strategies and tactics that promote the organization’s vision. As a more experienced member of the policy team, she simultaneously leads specific campaigns and advises other team members on their initiatives. The Senior Policy Counsel plays an important role in supporting DCJL’s efforts to develop skilled movement lawyers and advocates: the DC Justice Fellows program, the Policy Training Academy, and the Gilbert Policy Advocacy Competition. She stands out as a trustworthy and decisive leader, who is an expert at project planning and prioritization.

For seven years, Darby worked for the people of DC in the office of former Councilmember David Grosso. She advised the Councilmember on issues of criminal justice reform, human services, and human rights, and also served for a time as the director of the Committee on Education. While working for Councilmember Grosso, Darby began attending law school at night at the University of the District of Columbia and graduated summa cum laude in 2022, followed by a year clerking for Justice Shirley M. Watts of the Supreme Court of Maryland. She is a member of the DC Bar.

Prior to working for Councilmember Grosso, Darby advocated in DC, nationally, and internationally for criminal justice reform and the human rights of transgender people and sex workers for over a decade. In 2011, she addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council regarding the United States’ human rights record regarding sex workers and the LGBTQ community. Darby has worked to promote the health and rights of marginalized communities with Different Avenues and the DC Trans Coalition, and to stop sexual assault behind bars with Just Detention International, among other roles.

Darby lives in Brightwood Park with her 14-year-old son and enjoys gardening, card and board games, and DJing.