Tennessee ACLU names attorney Kathy Sinback as executive director

Nashville attorney Kathy Sinback will take the reins as the new executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, replacing longtime director Hedy Weinberg as of September 6. 

Sinback, whose career began with the Metro Nashville Public Defender’s Office in 1997, is known for her work with the Davidson County Juvenile Court and representing youth facing transfer into adult facilities, according to ACLU-TN board chair Paula Williams.

“We are tremendously excited for (Sinback) to bring her vision, talents and energy to the helm of the ACLU of Tennessee at this critical time in our nation,” said board chair Paula Williams. 

In 2004, Sinback met and represented Cyntoia Brown-Long, a 16-year-old who was arrested for killing Nashville real estate agent Johnny Allen. Brown-Long had been trafficked in her early teens and killed Allen after he solicited her for sex, she said. Sinback worked with Brown-Long until then-Gov. Bill Haslam granted Brown-Long clemency in 2019. 

Sinback has also worked as a legal advisor to a number of Metro Nashville departments, including Metro Nashville Public Schools, the Metro Nashville Police Department and the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management.

 She was a member of the Tennessee General Assembly’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Juvenile Justice in 2017 and serves as co-chairperson of the Alignment Nashville Action Team on Student Discipline. In 2019, she received the Founder’s Award from End Slavery Tennessee for her work in combating human trafficking in the state.

“The ACLU of Tennessee’s work is more important than ever as we are faced with multiple attacks on our civil rights and civil liberties here in Tennessee and across our country,” said Sinback. “ACLU-TN has long defended the rights of Tennesseans, particularly those who have been historically marginalized, and I am profoundly honored to build on this great work and to lead the organization at this time in its history.”

Weinberg stepped down on July 8 after 37 years with the ACLU-TN.