Shana Knizhnik

Shana Knizhnik is currently serving as a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society of New York City’s Criminal Defense Practice. She has a notable professional history, including her role as a legal fellow at the ACLU of the District of Columbia. Knizhnik gained significant recognition for creating the Notorious RBG Tumblr, a feminist website celebrating Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, following Ginsburg's dissent after part of the Voting Rights Act was struck down in 2013. She co-authored the New York Times bestseller "Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg" with journalist Irin Carmon, published by HarperCollins.

Previously, Knizhnik worked as the ACLU Dunn Fellow from 2016 to 2018, concentrating primarily on criminal justice reform, due process, and public employee speech rights. Her legal career began to take shape after graduating cum laude from New York University School of Law in 2015, where she clerked for Judge Dolores Sloviter on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. During her time at NYU, she was an Articles Editor for the New York University Law Review and engaged in leadership roles with OUTLaw and the Coalition on Law and Representation (CoLR). Additionally, she has interned at several notable legal institutions, including the ACLU Criminal Law Reform Project, the Public Defender Service for D.C., and the Legal Aid Society’s Juvenile Rights Practice in the Bronx.

Knizhnik has been acknowledged for her contributions to media and law, earning a spot on Forbes' 30 Under 30 List in Media in 2016. She is also an active speaker, discussing topics such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s impact and legacy at various institutions, including museums, universities, and law firms. In addition to her legal and writing accomplishments, Knizhnik is passionate about the arts, being a karaoke aficionado and participating in NYU Law School’s musical and a cappella groups during her student years.