Doug Kendall, a progressive litigator and activist, passed away this weekend in Washington from complications of colon cancer. He was 51.

In 2008, Doug founded the Constitutional Accountability Center, a think tank and law firm. It champions a reading of the Constitution that supports progressive causes, which Doug called New Textualism. Doug has said that “the Constitution is, in its most vital respects, a progressive document.” He co-authored more than four dozen Supreme Court briefs as CAC defended ACA, VRA, the Fair Housing Act and issues including marriage equality, federal immigration laws, environmental protection and access to courts. Doug attended UVA and UVA Law. Early in his career, he spent time at Crowell & Moring and the National Environmental Trust before founding CAC's predecessor organization, Community Rights Counsel, which he headed for a decade. CAC Board Chair and Amtrak VP and GC Eldie Acheson said, “The Board and staff of CAC are beyond sad at Doug’s passing...There is no better way for us to honor Doug’s life than by continuing his life’s work, building on his extraordinary vision for the arc of our Constitution’s progress.”