Thomas A. Loftus, Chair: He has studied social welfare law throughout his legal career, and has published writings regarding fundamental rights and material well-being. See, e.g., Thomas A. Loftus, Reforming Welfare: Are Effective Property Rights A Key?, 7 Md. J. Contemp. Legal Issues 387-422 (1996). He engaged in litigation, zoning and land use law while in private practice in Fairfax, VA (1976-78). During law school, he represented low-income tenants in eviction cases in Washington, D.C., with the Law Students in Court program, and participated in numerous other clinical legal programs serving low-income people.
He initiated the Equitable Housing Institute (EHI) (formerly CSWAC) after retiring early from the federal government in late 2004, where he had served for 26 years as an advisor to members of the U. S. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission on cases in litigation. He earned many “outstanding” performance ratings at the Commission and was credited with a career of “outstanding service.” His litigation experience also includes service as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in Washington, D.C. (1986).
Mr. Loftus holds a J.D. degree with Honors from the George Washington University Law School (1975), and a B.A. degree from Amherst College (1968). He assisted at a homeless shelter in Arlington, VA, for many years. From 2004-2013, he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Robert H. Jackson Center, which honors the late U. S. Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson (Mr. Loftus’ grandfather).