Managing Editor, State Court Report

Brennan Center for Justice; New York (NY); On-site; USD 145,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401k plan

Generous time off

Wellness program

Office perks

Job summary

The Brennan Center for Justice, based in New York City, seeks a Managing Editor to lead State Court Report. You will identify, assign, and edit stories, and manage contributors, deadlines, and editorial strategy. The role reports to the Editor in Chief and coordinates with the Communications Department.

You will shape coverage of state constitutional law, supervise staff, and occasionally write and edit for the site, with travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus substantial legal journalism experience or law degree.
• At least seven years of editorial experience in a legal, policy, or news publication.
• Outstanding organizational and project management skills.
• Exceptional editing skills and judgment for complex legal or policy writing.
• Strong news judgment and excellent writing ability.
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently in a busy environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to cultivate relationships with contributors.
• Creative, problem-solving mindset with ability to turn ideas into products.

Responsibilities

• Identify, assign, and edit stories for State Court Report.
• Provide substantive and line editing for expert analyses.
• Manage contributor and freelancer relationships and deadlines.
• Oversee editorial calendar for timely coverage (3–5 articles per week).
• Oversee case tracking and draft for the site; write periodically.
• Identify emerging trends and shape long-term editorial strategies.
• Coordinate with Brennan Center’s Communications Department.
• Lead outreach to scholars, journalists, practitioners, and judges.
• Supervise staff and contractors.
• Oversee state case and docket tracking.
• Draft headlines and updates; contribute to biweekly newsletter.
• Create content for social media and digital platforms.

Skills

Editorial leadership

Legal journalism

Strong writing

Project management

Deadlines

Collaborative work

Interpersonal skills

Story pitching

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in law or journalism

Job description

The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that seeks to improve the systems of democracy and justice in the United States. We work to hold our political institutions and laws accountable to the twin American ideals of democracy and equal justice for all. The Brennan Center’s work ranges from voting rights to campaign finance reform, from ending mass incarceration to preserving constitutional protections in national security policies. Part think tank, part advocacy group, part cutting-edge communications hub, we start with rigorous research. We craft innovative policies. And we fight for them — in Congress and the states, in the courts, and in the court of public opinion.

State Court Report is a fast-growing legal news and analysis hub published by the Brennan Center, which covers cases, trends, and cutting-edge scholarship related to state constitutional law. State constitutions and the state courts that interpret them are increasingly central to fights over voting, reproductive rights, criminal justice, education, property rights, the environment, and more. Launched in 2023, State Court Report provides a unique forum where experts come together to analyze and discuss constitutional trends emerging from state high courts across the country. The only publication of its kind, State Court Report features commentary and analysis by leading scholars, journalists, practitioners, and judges with diverse perspectives and expertise. State Court Report has a partnership with Slate, produces a biweekly newsletter, curates a database of notable cases, hosts events and symposia, and offers resources for students.

Position

The Brennan Center seeks a Managing Editor to help run State Court Report and set its editorial agenda. The Managing Editor will identify, assign, and edit stories, including providing both substantive and line editing for expert analyses of complex legal questions. They will manage contributor and freelancer relationships, oversee the editorial calendar to ensure a steady cadence of timely coverage, oversee case tracking, and periodically write for the site.

The Managing Editor will play a substantial role in shaping State Court Report’s coverage, including identifying emerging trends, pitching potential pieces and authors, and helping shape long-term editorial and creative strategies. The Managing Editor will work collaboratively across the organization, reporting to State Court Report’s Editor in Chief and coordinating with other relevant programs and departments, including working closely with the Brennan Center’s Communications Department.

Note: This position is based at our headquarters in New York City and may require occasional travel.

Responsibilities

• Help shape the next phase of growth for State Court Report, including new content and audience building strategies.
• Manage editorial calendar for State Court Report; plan, assign, and track deliverables from freelance writers, contributors, and Brennan Center staff; ensure a steady cadence of content (at least 3-5 articles per week); and manage deadlines.
• Edit legal analyses, interviews, features, and other content, including providing structural edits to sharpen arguments and line edits for clarity, legal precision, and style.
• Coordinate timely coverage of major state supreme court rulings; plan packages around topics such as judicial elections, end-of-year decision roundups, and back-to-school resources.
• Build and maintain State Court Report’s bench of contributors, including serving as the primary point of contact for a nationwide network of scholars, journalists, practitioners, and judges; recruit new voices and diverse perspectives.
• Supervise staff and contractors, including freelance writers and editors.
• Oversee state case and docket tracking; shape coverage priorities by identifying legal developments and trends that warrant in-depth analysis.
• Participate in regular content meetings and collaborate in developing story ideas.
• Periodically write articles and analyses; contribute to biweekly newsletter.
• Write and edit headlines and decks; draft updates to articles in response to breaking news.
• Draft case summaries for State Court Report’s case database; ensure case pages are up to date, and notable cases are appropriately tagged.
• Create content for social media and other digital platforms, with a willingness and interest in experimentation and innovation along with regular drafting and editing duties.
• Participate in planning digital forums, symposia, online discussions, events, and other content.
• Lead targeted outreach to key audiences to expand readership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus substantial legal journalism experience or law degree.
• At least seven years of editorial experience, preferably at a legal, policy, or news publication.
• Outstanding organizational and project management skills.
• Exceptional editing skills and judgment, including experience editing complex legal or policy writing by subject matter experts.
• Strong news judgment and excellent writing ability.
• Able to work both collaboratively and independently and thrive in a busy and dynamic work environment, juggling multiple projects.
• Adept at meeting deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships.
• Comfortable working constructively with contributors who may hold different viewpoints and perspectives.
• A creative, problem-solving mindset with demonstrated ability to turn ideas into products or actions.

Preferred

• Keen interest in law and legal developments.
• Experience in an editorial leadership role.
• Experience managing staff, freelancers, or contractors.

We are committed to considering a wide range of candidates, including those with diverse experiences and backgrounds. Whether you are new to the nonprofit law and policy sector, returning to work after a gap in employment, looking to make a career transition, or seeking to advance your professional path, we welcome your application.

If you’re uncertain about meeting 100 percent of our qualifications, we encourage you to apply anyway. In your cover letter, please describe your interest in the position and what you hope to contribute to the role.

Compensation and Benefits: The Brennan Center is a fantastic workplace! We offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package that is regularly assessed based on workplace trends and employee feedback. The salary range assigned for this position is $145,000-160,000. We determine our salary ranges based on market competitiveness and internal equity for each job. The salary offered to a selected candidate will be contingent upon the candidate’s experience, education, and qualifications, along with internal equity considerations. Additionally, we offer a very robust and competitive array of benefits such as a generous time off program, 401k plan, comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, and vision), and wellness and office perks.

The Brennan Center for Justice is committed to a workplace based on equal opportunity and a strong belief in the increased effectiveness that comes from a diverse workforce. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, ethnicity, gender identity, socioeconomic identity, sexual orientation, national origin, previous incarceration, disability, military veteran/status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. To this end, we welcome all qualified applicants to apply.