A powerful advocate for our nation's highest values, Frederick K. Brewington's tireless service on behalf of the public has earned him the designation, "The People's Lawyer." By litigating and winning numerous landmark cases, Mr. Brewington has compelled local governments and institutions on Long Island to become more fair and representative.
His efforts on behalf of the community go beyond litigation. Countless community organizations, including ERASE Racism, count Mr. Brewington as an esteemed member of their Board of Directors, Advisory Board, or Steering Committee. He is a co-convener in The Corridor Counts, a group of citizens from the Nassau County Corridor who organize for change.
Mr. Brewington focuses on issues such as affordable housing, police misconduct, community revitalization efforts, employment and civil rights, the environment and, especially, voting rights and fair representation in government. After working at several prestigious law firms and as a clerk at the Office of the Legal Counsel of the U.S. Senate, he began his own private practice on Long Island.
We do not have space here for the full roster of Mr. Brewington's legal victories on behalf of underserved citizens, but a few standout examples follow:
- MHANY Management et al. v. County of Nassau, et. al.: A Federal Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's ruling that zoning decisions in the Village of Garden City discriminated against people of color. The court required that Village officials undergo fair housing training, pass a fair housing resolution, appoint a third party fair housing compliance officer, and not discriminate in its housing policy.
- Dorothy Goosby et al v. Town Board of the Town of Hempstead: A Federal Court of Appeals overturned the Town's discriminatory at-large voting system, and required a fairer system of representation on the Town Board.
- Diana Coleman et al v. Abe Seldin: A New York State Supreme Court ruled that Nassau County's property tax assessment system was discriminatory, thereby invalidating that system.
- The People v. John White: Mr. Brewington defended a black Suffolk County man who was protecting his family. His manslaughter sentence was commuted by the Governor.
A product of Malverne High School (1975), and an honors graduate from the State University at Albany (1979), Mr. Brewington was the student commencement speaker at Northeastern University School of Law (1982) from which he holds a Juris Doctor degree. He is an adjunct professor at Touro College's Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center and a former president of the SUNY-Albany Alumni Association. He also serves on several Church Boards, including the Governing Board of the National Council of Churches.
For the fifth time, the Long Island Press has included him on their POWERLIST of 50 Most Influential People on Long Island. In 2015, the Long Island Business News awarded him their Lifetime Achievement Award.
Raised in Lakeville, Mr. Brewington now resides in Freeport with his wife, Adrienne, who is currently Pastor of the Poughkeepsie United Methodist Church. She was formerly an attorney as well as Superintendent of the Long Island East District, New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
It is our privilege to honor Fred Brewington, a true pioneering civil rights hero.